Made By Our Family Just For Yours
Sarris Chocolate Factory occupies an entire city block.
Visiting the Sarris Candies Chocolate Factory is a candy lover’s dream come true. Most adults feel like a kid again in this total candy atmosphere from the ceiling chandeliers to walls covered with candylike themes. Even their handrails look like pieces of licorice.
Athena and Frank Sarris
Frank Sarris developed this dream after trying to find the perfect gift for his sweetheart, Athena. Frank presented her with a gift to match her sweetness – a box of chocolates. The box he purchased just wasn’t the quality he expected so Frank began making his own chocolates.
Their 12′ high Chocolate Castle contains 2600 pounds of sweetness at a cost of $130,000.
Sarris Candies has been on the scene since 1960 when Frank started making chocolates in the basement of their Washington County, Pennsylvania home. He learned the secret of producing chocolate from a lifelong friend John Macris, the founder of Philadelphia Candies.
A friendly bear greets you inside the front door.
It wasn’t long before the business outgrew their basement and he built a small candy shop next door to their house. Over the years, this company has grown to over 350 employees and $16 million in annual sales.
Their Ice Cream Parlour offers all combinations of cool ice cream treats.
Licorice handrails led to their busy ice cream parlour.
Frank never forgot going to the soda shop or buying penny candy and wanted to incorporate those items into his candy store. In 1982, his son, Bill, helped him create his very own old-fashioned ice cream parlor complete with red and brass booths and crystal chandeliers.
Sarris’ Odd Fellow Sundae has a chocolate topping, of course.
People come from miles around to sample homemade Sarris Ice Cream with wonderful toppings. You can select one of their many favorites or design your own sundae.
A painting of Frank’s candy-striped orchid can be found near the Chocolate Castle.
As a philanthropist, Frank donated to many local organizations and causes. After Frank’s kidney transplant in 2002, their family established the Frank Sarris Outpatient Clinic, which provides pre and post-surgical care to transplant patients. There’s a library named for him and even a candy-striped orchid at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Their candy counter is the perfect place to select your favorite piece of chocolate.
Even their ceiling is decorated with Candy Land scenery.
Before Frank’s death in 2010, he arose early each morning, seven days a week, to greet his employees and customers. He cared about his hometown and returned the rewards of his success and good fortune to make it a better place to live. His love for every piece of candy will continue to make the world a sweeter place for years to come.
Their chocolate covered pretzel is a hometown favorite. Shelves were a little bare when stopping just after Valentines Day.
Today his son, Bill, continues the legacy of fine chocolates with the help of his mother, Athena, his sister and brother-in-law, and his two daughters. The family chocolate tradition continues with customer favorites being the peanut butter meltaway and their chocolate covered pretzels.
Life-sized stuffed animals can be found throughout the store.
Now the Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg take up the length of a football field. That’s 100 yards of chocolate, penny candy, ice cream, gifts for every holiday and lifelike plush toys. It’s always great to find a place that contains products made in the USA.
Their trucks are always ready to deliver products for a fundraiser to your school or organization.
But it doesn’t stop there, as now Sarris has expanded to over 1,200 locations in over ten states. Their mail order business is very popular as well as their fundraising opportunities for schools and churches.
This singing statue of Perry Como had laryngitis during a recent visit. Nice to see the town still remembers musical legends from Canonsburg.
While in town visit the statue of home-town singing barber Perry Como. Stop by McDonald’s where you’ll find walls covered with a tribute to local musical artists Perry Como, Bobby Vinton and the Four Coins.
Decorative stained glass marks the entrance to the Ice Cream Shoppe.
Be sure to stop at Sarris Candies on your next trip through Canonsburg and surround yourself with the smell and taste of chocolate. It’s more than a candy store!
The love story of Frank and Athena continues through their candy stores. After one taste, you too will fall in love with Sarris Chocolates.
Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour are located just a couple blocks off I-79 at Exit 45 – Canonsburg. The street address is 511 Adams Avenue. There’s plenty of parking very handy to the store.
Gypsy Road Trip 
Comments on: "Sarris Candies Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour" (2)
What a delightful story, and how delicious it sounds. I don’t know when I will be in Ohio, but I promise that if I get there anytime soon I will head right over to Sarris Chocolate and Ice Cream Factory. Do you happen to know whether their their chocolate candies are made with 70% or more cocoa? That’s the number that makes dark chocolate suddenly healthy to eat!
Their dark chocolate is 72% cocoa so that definitely makes it healthy. I must tell you that this candy company is over the Ohio border into Pennsylvania. I try to stay about 100 miles from home but often cross state lines. It’s a great stop anytime.