I have always been fascinated by Charlie and Chocolate Factory and the amazement of what the factory looks like behind closed doors. For about twelve years, I have made Cerreta's my go-to place to find local candies and chocolates to give as gifts, treats for my wife, co-workers, and me, and an all-around fun experience. Whether it is Glendale's Chocolate Affaire or getting local-made chocolate for any holiday, I've always had fun visiting the store as opposed to just purchasing their chocolates in local grocery stores. When you first walk into the store, you see the individual wrapped chocolates all the way on the left with the boxed and bagged gift sets in the middle aisle of the store, and taffies and other candies on the right side of that. Immediately to the right when you arrive is the factory itself and the entrance to their tour. Similar to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, Cerreta's also provides tours of their chocolate-making process with special treats at the end. This is great for groups, classes, or families and always makes for a fun photo op and a tasty experience. Cerreta's offers candy and nuts, popcorn, barks, brittles, and toffee, taffy, gifts, novelty items, sugar-free items, merchandise, and holiday items, which you can also purchase online. When you arrive, you are typically offered a complimentary chocolate. On each visit, I'll typically get some gifts for out of town friends and family, some chocolates for my wife and I to share, and some to bring into the office. My wife's favorite chocolates are dark and milk chocolate fudge cream, dark orange melt away, milk chocolate raspberry melt away, and milk chocolate mousse. In addition to this, I also like white orange dreams, dark chocolate strawberry cream, milk chocolate vanilla cream, s'mores, and French mint. In fact, it is French mint that Cerreta's is known for. I have a conference next week, and I got a two pound box of French mints as a silent auction item for a charity fundraiser at the conference. You can visit the Cerreta's website at https://cerreta.com. In addition to online purchases, you can learn about locations around the state where you can buy their candies and/or chocolates, how to use the GrubHub delivery service, educational VIP tours and other teacher resources, and details on signing up for their newsletter to get the latest updates on new products and sales. Cerreta Candy Company is a family-owned business founded more than 50 years ago by Jim Cerreta, Sr., who moved to Arizona from Ohio. There are now four generations of the candy business overseeing the production and operations of the chocolates and candy. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM and located in the heart of downtown Glendale with plenty of parking outside. The service is wonderful! I've never seen an employee who wasn't smiling working there. If you haven't been to Cerreta's yet, you HAVE TO go and check it out. There are gifts for any occasion, and creative gifts at that. But make sure you get something special for yourself when you visit. Enjoy!! read more

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I've gone here for years. The treats are consistently delicious. Service is always friendly. They have a big parking lot, so I've never had an issue parking. They have tours and so many different candies to try and great gifts for the sweets lovers in your life. One thing that my minis are a fan of are the "make your own chocolate" so you can create custom treats. The chocolate is delicious and you get a decent selection of options to include for your custom treats. It's fun to do on a random day if you're trying to find things to do as a family or it'd be a cute day date tbh. Would I come back? Yes, always. read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - Custom chocolate - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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My family was in town and we wanted to do something unique to Arizona! I found Cerreta Candy Company, a 50 yo family owned business in Glendale, AZ which also offers tours! Tickets were only $7 for the tour and if you wanted to add on a chocolate VIP activity, it's around $16. The 1 hr tour took place in the large factory room and our group stood in a space right in front. We were brought to different sections while being taught about their candy manufacturing and process. Loved our tour guide, she was very animated and passionate about Cerreta's candies. We also got to try different popular treats at each station. I was impressed with their life-sized Santa Claus mold and this enormous football chocolate they made for a NFL game. They mainly produce flavored taffy, caramel and assorted chocolates. My kiddo was looking around for sour candy and gummies, but this isn't necessarily the spot for the non-chocolate candy lovers. He did enjoy making his VIP activity which was a pizza kit. They pour liquid chocolate into the pizza mold and he was able to place various ingredients in it (pretzels, marshmallow, m&ms, white syrup, etc). We also were allowed one free chocolate at the store! We had a great time and bought a bunch of various tasty treats including a chocolate cockroach, lol it was fake of course! read more

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Don't sleep on this place. The best chocolate ever! The customer service is always on point, everyone is helpful, and it smells divine! There are so many options, chocolate, caramel, taffy, sugar-free, and all shapes and sizes. They even have a chocolate tour! The French Mints are unbeatable, and you can't go wrong with the melt away. You can also get your chocolates wrapped in a box for free, and pick a bow color. read more

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I visited Cerreta's on a field trip as a kid and we decided to stop in for a tour 20+ years later. The tour and add on of making your own bar of chocolate was worth every penny. You learn about the candy making process, and get to see a lot of the old machines some of which are nearly 100 years old. Very much worth a visit, especially with kiddos or visitors from out of town. A neat, local experience! read more

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I had NO IDEA there was a candy factory in Glendale! My friend and I went in on a whim the other day, and this place is HUGE! They have every kind of candy you can think of, and more! Tours are also offered too! Lots of seasonal items, this place will be fun to get gifts at during the holiday season! The lady working was super friendly and let us try whatever candies we wanted. She also told us a bit about the history of the factory, and it's been in its current location since the 1980's!!! I cannot WAIT to come back soon and support this local business. read more

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I would not recommend the "tour" unless you are an adult. You don't actually get a "tour". You get to watch what you can see from a distance. They do give you samples and a coupon for after the tour which made us feel a little better about the cost of the tour. The chocolate is good but we would not really recommend a tour. read more

Very friendly staff Tons of taffy to choose from a lots of chocolate choices Very good with gift ideas and holiday specials read more

I absolutely love visiting Cerreta's for their handcrafted chocolates. We've been here many times and always make a point to stop by whenever we're in the area. Their chocolates are delicious, and they offer a great selection of seasonal treats for the holidays. The factory also provides tours fun activities for kids, making it a great stop for families. My personal favorite is the French Mints, it's like an Andes mint but fresher and even better! The Arizona Western box of chocolates is my go-to gift for visitors or when I need to bring a little taste of Arizona to someone. And for a truly indulgent treat, the Arizona Rock (chocolate-covered honeycomb) is a must-try; light, crunchy, and covered in rich milk chocolate. Whether you're looking for amazing chocolates or a unique Arizona gift, Cerreta Chocolate is the place to go! read more

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So here I was on a Wednesday morning, and my once a year visit to Cerreta's for some Fine Chocolate. Believe me, I am grateful to be able to visit once a year, as my sweet tooth can be dangerous. As I walked in the place was hopping with customers and people taking the daily tour of the chocolate candy making process. My wife and I come here to buy different chocolates and other candy for gifts. Plus some for us as well. Inside the place you could see all the workers each doing their specific part of the candy making process. I wasn't here to do the tour but if you take a glance behind the display you can see a lot. Plus it is kept very clean and my goodness the odor just pulls you in and makes you feel like a kid again and I have all these choices to make. Again, just grateful to visit once a year. Come here, even if you have to drive a long distance and visit Cerreta's. You will be happy you did. I know I do, even if it is once a year. read more

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Pass by this establishment a few times and finally decided to stop. As soon as I opened the door, there was so much to see from popcorn to chocolates galore and everything there they had in store. All freshly made by hand in during the week. They even have tours of the chocolate factory Monday through Friday for a fee. Unfortunately, I went during the weekend and those are the days when the factory does not offer chocolate tours. I did purchase a few of their chocolates which were delicious . I will be back to try other freshly made by hand goodies. Especially because I would like to go on the chocolate tour. During this visit, staff were very friendly and helpful, which I appreciated and made the experience that much more memorable and positive . read more

Its always fun to buy candy were it's made. Its smells wonderful inside. We get most of our gifts here for a lot of different occasions. Ladies at the counter are always friendly, and super helpful when we need something. If you haven't been, its worth a visit. read more

I came up here to get some great & delicious chocolates from a local company. They have a great selection of flavors and their French mints are the best. While similar to Andes mints, they are way better tasting and very rich of flavor. They offer all sorts of candies as well. Yes, they are a little pricier, but so worth it. The ladies working the registers are very friendly and professional. If you are in the area and like/love chocolate, it's worth the visit. read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

We were in Glendale and dropped by the Cerreta Chocolate factory after having afternoon tea. What a fun place! I was delighted to see the large selection of chocolates and candies for sale in their store as well as watching some goodies being made. You can see, smell and get a taste of the confectionery. Just like in the famous "I love Lucy" episode "Job switching", the Cerreta employees wore hair nets, gloves and worked meticulously. There is a photo of Lucy and Ethel from this particular episode posted by the candy machinery. :) We purchased a chocolate covered jalapeno pepper, a chocolate covered twinkie, a bag of toffee, an assortment of their sugar free chocolates and of course a box of their well known, French mint chocolates. These make great gifts for out of towners! read more

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I moved to Our Fair Valley 39 years ago. Since Day 1 I've seen Cerreta's candies in grocery store displays. Now, 42 years, almost to the day of my permanent Arizona residence I stepped into the store and onto the floor of this small family business. Machinery fascinates me. A wave of gentle mechanical sounds filled my ears. Very nice old equipment and belts of candy caught my eye. Cerreta family art is everywhere - murals with a purpose. I could not reject the offer to sample product. Please Help Yourself! Being an obsessive person, I got distracted when I found a single truffle mixed with the Arizona-shaped mini-bites. I sorted that out with management. I ogled the various dark and milk chocolate coins of various cocoa concentrations. I remembered seeing some Arizona candy bars, rushed away to grab 6 to add to my May birthday gifts. Take a tour, buy a tee, sample the goods. I assure you, there will be lots more cool and unusual treats here than you'll find in grocery store bins. An Arizona family business that is a lot about Our Fair State. I hope they've cut a deal with Kroger's and Raley's. read more

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I was out roaming the streets still learning new ways to get around when I found this treasure. The smell of the store/factory was worth the stop. The family-owned candy shop was founded over 50 years ago and is still going strong. I stopped in on a Saturday when the processing and tours are closed, so I'll have to come back another time to see this place in action. However, the bag of French Mints I purchased was a sweet consolation prize. read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

This is some of the best chocolate you will ever have! The mint and the orange are my favorites! You can taste the high quality ingredients here. Definitely do the tour if you have time, such a cool story! And don't forget to check out the chocolate Santa for Christmas! read more

I'll take all the French Mint Meltaways please! Cerreta has been around for decades and it's easy to see and taste why. These candies are made in house and they are special. Each one is a delicacy on its own and I have yet to taste one that I did not like (including sugar free)...though their mint meltaways are the best and what they are most known for. They also have kettle corn, seasonal treats, and other sweet treats. Along with selling candy they also offer educational tours that have become somewhat of a right or passage for youngsters taking field trips (my husband and I both remember going 30 years ago)! When you step inside Cerreta you are taken into a world that delights the senses. It's a large factory that lets you see how it's all made and the smells, sights, and tastes are divine. The prices aren't cheap however; good candy comes at a cost, but I assure you, you can taste the difference. The chocolatiers know how to make the good stuff, and the staff are always knowledgeable and guide you to what will make your tastebuds dance. Treat yourself and stop on in to this iconic chocolate factory! read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - French mint meltaways - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

I've been coming here for years. The last 2 years we have purchased chocolate boxes for family and friends for Christmas presents. They get big smiles on their faces and begin eating the chocolates. The staff is amazing! Some family members have food restrictions so we selected our own chocolates. The staff puts them in boxes, with a pretty bow. My daughter has egg allergy so NO cream chocolates. My granddaughters have celiac. Good to know their pretzels and most of chocolates are gluten free. Do yourself a favor and check this place out. We will for sure return and not just Christmas time. read more

Big store, great selection, reasonable prices and the staff was very helpful. The candy is excellent.

Ceereta's is a West Valley institution. I have been told by multiple people that we have to go there. We decided to kick off winter break by going to see Wonka with friends, then visiting an actual chocolate factory. Being days before Christmas, Cerreta's was ready for the holiday rush. There are items they sell regularly, and special items for Christmas. Unlike many of the chocolate Santas sold in mass market retailers, the Santas here are solid chocolate. They have more than chocolates. There are taffy, flavored popcorn, covered pretzels, brittles, and even hot sauce. Chocolate covered jalapeños are one of their specialty items. I was surprised by how many sugar-free items are available. This isn't a single lone item. There is a variety of chews, chocolate barks, Santas, and bars. Be diabetic or following a keto diet, there are a variety of confections to satisfy the sugar free sweet tooth. The tour isn't what I expect when I think of/what I have experienced in other factory tours. This is more of a presentation. There is what looks like a waiting area that runs the length of the kitchen. The tour group stands in that area while an employee explains Cerreta's history and how the chocolates are made. A few samples are given throughout the presentation. Other factory tours I have been on really show the products being made. This was more of an explanation and imagine what those explanations would look like. The TV with a history of chocolate video was not running the day we visited. Each person on the tour did receive a coupon for $2.50 off any purchase. For an additional charge, add-ons to the tour include decorating a personal chocolate pizza or football. read more

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We found this surprise spot on our drive yesterday & had to stop at this unique candy shop. The beautiful building shining brightly on the corner and the history as you approach the parking lot speaks volumes of what a staple this place is. Then, you open the doors and walk into a childhood dream of decadent sweet treats. Jaw dropping! It's absolutely the Willy Wonka shop of the Valley and one of, if not the ONLY original candy shops left in the state of Arizona. Glendale considers it the heart of Glendale as its been in business since 1968! This is a candy store for adults and children alike. Super FUN experience with really high-quality candies that brought me back to my younger years in this sugary environment. The staff was so sweet ( pun intended) welcoming and knowledgeable. The decorations, the atmosphere and the originality is pure excitement. The yesteryears iconic. They produce over 5,000 pounds of chocolate each day and it's all displayed throughout the candy shop. They also make and manufacture their product on site. I picked up my favorite candy toffee. My friend got a few goodies for her family as well. They pretty much have everything and anything you can think of chocolate. They were making solid chocolate Jeep molds while we were there. Super cute! Many touristy tends including t-shirts, taffy, great gift baskets, ice cream and local brands of meat rubs & sauces too! A family owned and operated business for over 50 years. Four generations of the candy business now oversee production & operations of their delightful chocolates and candy products. They STILL use the same equipment since the day they opened the doors. They offers free, 30-minute guided factory tours Monday thru Friday at 10AM and 1PM. Spring for the VIP tour ($12.50) and you can make your own chocolate pizza after you explore the factory. They also do children's birthday parties. Call ahead to book. Located at 5345 W. Glendale Ave., Cerreta Candy Company is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. you can also order online, visit their website for more details. It was pure bliss for my friend & I as we've know each other since childhood. For our first trip here we literally felt like two kids in a candy store! LOL We definitely plan to visit again and even order some gifts online for the upcoming holidays. Their gift baskets are amazing & shipping prices are reasonable. ALL of their products that are sent are secured in cold packs to ensure the quality and integrity of the candy when it arrives delivered to the door. Check out ALL my fabulous snapshots & stop in as well. read more

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Stopped in to check it out. Very clean nice location. We walked around and there was so much to choose from. From chocolate to caramel to different nut options. Prices are fair. Service was nice and they finished it off with a sample. read more

Large selection, made in house. Everything was great. Be prepared to buy more than you want. The mint chocolates (green, not pink) were my favorite. read more

Mint chocolate! That's all I have to say! Go!!! I just had a piece- I never have to go to Olive Garden ever again! read more

I took my granddaughter to celebrate her earning of Student of the Month. Maria could not have been more incredible, individualizing my granddaughter's experience to really make her feel special. The storefront has an incredible selection of treats, and the chocolate is incredible. Thank you to the entire staff for making a great family memory. Truly. read more

ok first off it's a cool little candy shop that has been around for quite some time. family owned and ran (even till this day) there's plenty of candy to choose from! my review is strictly for the tasting tour... do not waste ur time/$$. the tour is 100% "tasting" and "standing" you do not get to take a look at how the machines work. rather one must use their imagination. kinda hard to expect little kids to imagine how it works.. apparently monday/friday is "low production" day. why can't they turn it on for the purpose of a "tour"?? make it worth our time...maybe?? after you taste a few candies and hear some history the guide has you walk down the hall to see the machine and unfortunately kids must use their imagination bc the machines are blocked by stacks of boxes and also we are separated by a wall of table so we can't peak over.. my son is about 4 feet tall and had to tiptoe but lost interest bc again no machines running. your target audience is kids.. kids love candies.. kids love machines.. cater to the kids... then we walk back down and grab a chair and make whatever chocolate dessert you paid for. this is where if u didn't pay for "VIP" the "tour" is now over.... however we did pay. the guide handed us our chocolate pizza to decorate and off she went. i spent more time driving there than i did getting a "tour"... also don't call it a "tour" if ur not literally touring anything. call it what it is an expensive tasting. bc truly you could buy all the candies they let u taste for under $5 and go to website and sit in comfort of your home to learn about the history of the place. instead i spent over $25-$30. for the most underwhelming experience ever.. not including the driving distance... i'm writing this to warn other parents it's a catfish tour/money grab NOT worth it. apparently before covid once upon a time they allowed you to take a proper tour. be clear on your website what one is truly paying for: couple tiny chocolates /history lesson all while standing for 20 mins. the site says: "Tourists can Purchase a Chocolate Tasting Tour Pass "for a guided tour of our factory" and three samples, or they can upgrade to a VIP Activity." there's is no guided tour it's a walk along a wall that is blocked by boxes & tables and NO machines running at all. 100% whack. read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - those tall boxes are all align the wall and block machine views for little ones.. - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

Great chocolate and variety of items. Good prices and friendlt staff. A local jewel.

Great selection of local made chocolates and other assorted candies. Take the tour, and get 3 tastings of their candy.

Fun family activity while visiting the Phoenix, AZ area. Nice, small, family owned business offering free tours or you can pay for the VIP tour and make your own chocolate treat. There is a great selection of chocolate and other candy, like taffy and peanut brittle too. It's all made without automation, the old fashioned way. Everyone was super nice and very knowledgeable about the process. It was not busy at all and we got our own personal tour. I highly recommend if you are ever in the area. I'm certain you can find something you will enjoy eating. read more

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This place has ample of chocolate selections available. It's a factory and store all in one! They offer tours around the factory if you're interested and also different programs for kids. Great variety of chocolates that's locally made with sugar free option available too. Very friendly and helpful staff! read more

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Never in my life did I know that Phoenix had a small chocolate factory. Having lived and gone to college in the valley I had no idea that this place existed until I saw it on TikTok. Since I was visiting, I thought it would be a great activity early in the morning and it was. We arrived a little bit after the start of the the tour option. But the associate at the front so we can join if we didn't mind being late. We apologized and joined the other four or five guests already in the tour. It basically gives you an overview of the history of the chocolate factory, plenty of samples and if you signed up for activity, you would complete it here. I think the tour cost seven dollars which I thought was worth it. Afterwards, we spent some time in the retail area towards the front of the store. The store is very clean. We saw many of the machines that were used to produce chocolate. It took maybe about an hour overall. You could probably stretch it out if you spend a lot more time in the candy area. we purchased a bunch of chocolate bars, Camelback's, and chocolate cowboy boots. Definitely would return and think of this place when I need chocolate gifts in the future. There is tons of parking out front. Easy to find as it's on the corner of two major streets. read more

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Went for the tour and although not a Wiily Wonka or See's, this place has it all. Penny our tour guide was informed and engaging. You can't disagree with free samples of great candy and a work ethic of quality for years. We were so impressed we bought chocolates to send to our family in California. Even if you don't do a tour (numerous options to choose) go into the store and enjoy the sights and sounds. And of course, the candy! Lots of parking and must be able to stand as there are limited places to sit. read more

Had a great time shopping for chocolate. We did the tour but it's not really worth the $7.00 bucks. It was like 10 min max and you don't get we didn't get to see them making candy. We did go on the last tour of the day. It's a cool like shop and I enjoy the candy. read more

We were traveling through and went for a tour this morning. Super sweet and knowledgeable guide. The kids got lots of candy. (The mint chocolates ARE amazing!) We also did the activity afterwards and the kids made their own chocolate pizzas. Lovely experience with lots of history. read more

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I asked the young person working behind the counter if the dark chocolate was vegan. She was very rude and told me how horrible and "very, very bad" any chocolate would taste without milk. Apparently, she never heard of milk alternatives (oat milk, almond etc.) I understand if they don't sell vegan chocolate, but she didn't need to be so dismissive and could have pointed me to alternatives like their nuts and popcorn. The vegan chocolate was for a friend. I bought chocolate for myself, the regular chocolate tasted old and not quite what it used to taste like. read more

Worth the trip! It's quaint and vintage. Definitely try the chocolate-making class. It was fun and you're given loads of mix-ins/toppings. There was much to choose from, as far as bulk candy goes. Don't skip out on those French mints they're famous for! read more

It reminds me of a Candy company back in Zville Ohio. Sugar free chocolate candy too.

This place is not for someone like myself. As an adult, I love candy. There's something for everyone here, and they have plenty of sugar-free options. I purchased a few items and loved every piece. read more

Cerreta Fine Chocolates - Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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Such a cute friendly place. In the historic old town district of Glendale. I haven't been here in over 9 years. I was so happy to hear they were still in business so I could take my little ones in for a treat and pick up some gifts. Covid practices are in place. Tours for small numbers and more often are being held during the week from 10am to 2pm weekdays. They offer hand sanitizer, a non touch payment process sometimes and they wear and enforce face masks. Don't forget to put on a disposable glove they have setting beside the help yourself bags before picking your favorite candy treats. Being a hands on family business for so long it would be nice knowing what ingredients are in their candy. A book for employees to reference or online information for customers. The French Mints show ingredients online and anything prepackaged. Having resources for individual candy would be nice. Also more product information online to order gifts. It does not give options to pick what goes into a gift candy box. Maybe over the phone it is an option. I recommend visiting some time and taking a tour. It is a great homeschooling opportunity as well! read more

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