My father and I had just enjoyed a lunch at Michael’s Café, located on 11^th avenue in downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania. We enjoyed a wrap, some homemade potato chips and a cool glass of ice tea. While leaving Michael’s Café I said to dad, “Let us get dessert.” So we walked from Michael’s Café to McIntyre’s Candies now owned an operated by the Ruggery family: Don Sr., Don Jr. and Jay. Upon entering the candy shop we were greeted with a warm hello and smile from every McIntyre’s Candies employee including one of the owners Don Ruggery Jr.

 

Don asked how he could assist us and I told him I was not sure what I wanted. Then Don asked questions. Do you like dark or milk chocolate? Do you like peanut butter? Do you like marshmallow? And finally he asked what other tastes do you like and I told him I liked chocolate covered pretzels. He had the perfect candy for me. It was called a Fancy pretzel. It starts with a small square pretzel, add some peanut butter and small marshmallows, and then enrobe that in smooth dark chocolate. He allowed me to taste the candy and I was hooked. I ordered a box and walked out as happy as I entered the store.

 

 

They opened their first official store on 1330 17th Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1960. Former students of Keith Junior High still talk about stopping in the shop for fresh candy after school. To this day, McIntyre’s daily candy-making concludes around school dismissal time.

 

By 1982 Thelma and Kermit McIntyre’s daughter Barb Ray and her husband Jack were a part of the candy making business and would eventually take ownership of McIntyre’s Candies before selling it to the Ruggery family. It was from 1982 -1992 when they started selling through a nationwide mail order service. They would also sell wholesale to several local grocery stores. Soon there was a need to expand the candy making operation to the building next to the store and so both buildings now house the store and candy making portion of the business.

 

Don is a true entrepreneur and I hope you take the opportunity to view the video to learn about Don and his family. The Ruggery family is growing the business and making investments in McIntyre’s Candies such as: a new enrober (enrobes the chocolate over crèmes, butter brittle, etc.) and a new website complete with online store. They encourage their employees to solve problems, smile, and remind people that the candy store, especially McIntyre’s Candies, is a happy place. They are committed to growing and expanding what Grandma Thelma McIntyre began in 1948.

 

 

So if you have a sweet tooth please stop by and visit McIntyre’s Candies either online at www.mcinturescandies.com or at one of their stores in Altoona or Hollidaysburg.

 

 

Open Monday through Saturday,
9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Call (814) 944-4292

1419 Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601

 

 

Open Monday through Saturday,
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Call (814) 696-9055

2 Towne Square, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648