Life is Sweeter in Yorktown
On May 7, 2023, the Little York Confectionery opened its doors, and since then visitors and locals have flocked to this candy wonderland that would make even Willy Wonka jealous. Giant lollipops, specialty chocolates, peppermint bark, ice cream, and more align the shelves of this charming store.
However, the Little York Confectionery is more than just a candy shop. It’s an experience. From the moment you walk through the front doors, prepare to be immersed into the art and magic of traditional candy making. Visitors can watch Head Chef Mary Ammons and her culinary team handcraft the delicious morsels. From the carefully painted toy soldiers to the wildly popular chocolate oyster shells, the team only uses the finest ingredients to create the savory delights.
“Our mission has always been to create a destination on Main Street that harkens back to when the town was a bustling port,” said owner Celeste Gucanac, who also owns and operates Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters. “When you come to us, you are getting specialty items that are created here and are unique to Yorktown.”
Tucked throughout the store are nods to the area’s rich history. The Jefferson scallop shell that appears on the store’s sign and throughout the shop is one such example. A native fossil to the area, the shell symbolizes something even more in the candy world.
“When they were first making solid chocolate,” said Ammons, “A lot of the chocolatiers in France would use shells and fossils as the chocolate molds since they didn’t have plastic yet. That’s why it’s called a chocolate shell.”
Even the name itself offers a nod to Yorktown’s past when the soldiers wrote they were stationed at “Little York” on the paperwork they turned in to the newly formed government.
Whether you are looking for a sweet treat for yourself or a holiday surprise for someone special, be sure to stop by the Little York Confectionery at 401 Main Street. The store is open Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and extended hours for special events. Pre-ordering specialty chocolates is highly recommended.
“Life is sweeter in Yorktown!” said Gucanac with a smile. It is, but now it is even more so!
