Friendly place, small town candy shop when you walk in. Not many options, but familiar enough you knew what to look for. A few things appeared to have been stored away and sorta looks as if it's kinda shoved to the side. For example : soft serve machine. Not sure if some things are placed there because not in season purposes? I wanted candy corn, my husband got a rootbeer. We were both satisfied with what we got. All payments accepted. Parking is available along the side street. Friendly service. read more

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There seems to be a candy store in almost every ocean side town I visit. I simply walk on by as i'm not the type of parent that lets my kids buy bags of candy. So when I saw one opening in Kingston almost a decade ago I just shrugged and kept going. After learning Dianne Reeder's story you realize this isn't your ordinary candy store. Yes they have over 400 kinds of candy you can buy in bulk and the store has your typical kitschy trinkets but if you look deeper it's where you find Diane's passion and empathy for others. She just wants to make your day a little easier and for you to leave happier than you came. Certainly this isn't hard when you're scooping Janes Ice cream and serving vegan homemade soft serve using Fruition chocolate and coconut milk. Even this is fairly common place in a world over run by NYC transplants expecting everything to be homemade and gluten free. Where Dianne is different, is her commitment to community. In 2005, Diane was the winner of the Microsoft/Bill Gates Start Something Amazing Award (a program honoring the unique and inspiring ways that people use Microsoft related technology to pursue their everyday passions) for her work bringing attention to food insecurity. Her passion for cooking and her desire to help others led her to find a nonprofit organization called The Queens Galley in Kingston. The work she did with the Kingston Farmers Market was instrumental in getting them to accept food stamps. Diane's mission to have people come together and break bread in dignity has now spread across the country. Her commitment even landed her a diner at the Whitehouse with President Obama. To add to her resume she graduated the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park while raising 3 kids and running the candy bar. But let's get to the point. Diane is a pillar of the community where everybody knows her name. But what about the food? Just sitting outside snacking on my freshly roasted nuts (still warm) sipping on my 72hr steeped Lavazza cold brew I'd say simply perfect. Don't miss the carrot cake doughnut topped with maple walnuts and stuffed with macerated pineapple. The passion fruit and blackberry parfait or those rainbow cookie tricolor doughnuts. They have a sweet for everyone! Kingston Candy Bar might not be the hippest spot on the block but the love Diane puts into her work is palpable. Kingston Candy Bar https://www.instagram.com/b.overly_delicious/-- at Kingston Candy Bar. read more

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What a fun, little retro candy store! Even though it's small, there's a ton of stuff packed in there. The ice cream looked really good as did some of the other frozen treats that I saw others walking out with. In the center, I spied a really decadent treat that I might have to go back for (since I said "no" to engorging myself in sweets): a rich, chocolate brownie dipped in chocolate with a layer of vanilla marshmallow on top that was flamed/browned/toasted. Dude. Grab that with some coffee and top it off with a nap. Cool spot for grabbing goodies. read more

Kingston Candy Bar - Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Kingston, New York

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I got the lavender ice cream and it was perfect. The lavender was at the perfect strength and it wasn't too sweet. Every time I walk into the store I feel like I'm in Willy Wonka. Such a cute place! Only thing wrong was how cluttered the store is. Not much room to walk. read more

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Cute candy shoppe on the Main Street of this little town. The prices are good (at least compared to the city) I feel like we got so much for under $5. The owner also gave us some sugar free gum balls to help clean out our teeth...dentist recommended lol read more

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Okay, so this part of Kingston makes me feel like I'm playing Zaneeta Shinn in a site-specific production of The Music Man, and what better way to feel like you're a girl in 1910's middle America than by visiting a super cute and super cheap candy and ice cream shop? We were absolutely enchanted by Kingston Candy Bar on our day trip visit today, and I can't recommend this place enough! Don't be fooled by the tiny shop! Sure, it's crowded, but look what's taking up the space: rows and rows of penny candy, ice cream, and even house made donuts! I wanted to get something sweet, but it was almost time for dinner. Enter the $1 "Baby Ice Cream Scoop" to the rescue! It's basically a golf-ball sized, 1.5 ounce serving of the ice cream or sorbet of your choice for the reasonable price of one dollar! I got the Salted Caramel Pretzel ice cream, which was rich, buttery, and perfectly complex, plus the small size was a sensible portion for a pre-dinner treat. My boyfriend snagged a few pieces of penny candy in the form of tasty gummy dinosaurs and a couple pieces of candied ginger for me. I was pleasantly surprised by the candied ginger - it's one of my favorite sweets, and yet very hard to find. Kudos to Kingston Candy Bar for carrying it and making my day! The service, for lack of a better term, couldn't have been sweeter, and the salesgirl was very kind and knowledgeable, even offering us some recommendations of nearby restaurants for dinner. Suffice to say, I think I have a new favorite candy shop! read more

Kingston Candy Bar - Cute sign outside! - Candy Stores Near Me - Kingston, New York

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Friendly service and the pear sorbet was refreshing. I would have preferred a stronger pear flavor. Lots of dessert treats, candies, 6-8 ice cream flavors, vanilla soft serve. read more

This place is really cool me and my friends went there and they had almost any candy you can imagine and fair prices so if your around here and you don't know what to do I would definitely suggest to go here read more

We popped into Kingston Candy bar for a small potion of ice cream and I am ever so glad we did. This is the first time we ever tried Jane's ice cream of Hudson Valley fame. It was outrageously good. I choose Dulce de Leche and it was simply out of the ballpark good. My Mom opted for Killer chocolate and she said, it truly lived up to its name. The charming woman behind the counter informed us that they also have soft serve which they make there themselves. We will have to try that on another visit. The place is also full of every type of candy imaginable but what caught my attention was Avery's soda and their outrageously funny soda names. Be sure to check out my photo of them. You will enjoy the laugh. read more

Kingston Candy Bar - Candy Stores Near Me - Kingston, New York

The Kingston Candy Bar is honestly the best place to go if you're craving sweets in Kingston. Not only do they have a huge selection of candies you can choose from all along either wall (scoop into a paper bag, priced by weight) but they have some of the most delicious ice cream and soft serve my parents and I have ever had! They serve Jane's Ice Cream (stellar!) as well as their own homemade frozen custard, and offer them in a range of sizes in cups or cones. The 'small' cup size is true to its name. It's perfect for a bit of dessert that you will be able to finish, but won't feel guilty doing so. They also have a slew of dessert/sweet options that are Vegan &/or Gluten Free, so for those of you who abide by those dietary restrictions, you won't have to worry. I tried their dairy-free soft serve and though I'm not vegan, I am lactose intolerant, and it was really nice to have an amazingly delicious option to choose from. To top it all off, all of their staff (owner included) are probably some of the nicest people we've ever met. Super patient even if we take forever to decide what we want, or have a million questions about what they have. Plus, their $ minimum for Credit/Debit cards is $1, so you can totally pop in, get a few pieces of candy, and not have to worry about meeting a minimum whatsoever. In summary, this shop is a wonderful gem in the Stockade District and you should totally go :) read more

I was excited to go in as I'd heard great things and was extremely disappointed in their product. I felt that their deal on fudge was great, but the fudge was mediocre at best. I got 6 wildly different flavors and yet they all tasted nearly the same. And the cherry on top of the whole ordeal, their 'pride' fudge was FIVE colors!!! And the woman behind the bar was wearing a pride mask. How can you possible advertise something as pride if it's incorrect... read more

Kingston Candy Bar - Kingston Candy Bar 'pride' fudge - Candy Stores Near Me - Kingston, New York

good selection of candy, but the owner can have a demeaning/rude tone at times. a little clustered, and some of the candy was stale, but it's always fun to go in and pick out various candies for a decent price read more

Delicious flavors, and the best sizing /pricing system I've ever encountered. Whether you want just a taste, or a full cup of ice cream, there are options, with a golf ball sized taste at only $1. So if you want just a little dessert, you can have it without needing to buy some huge scoop at a huge price, and then eating it just cuz you bought it. Brilliant! We had espresso, coconut and strawberry, all wonderful. Kind, fun staff too! A must stop for a charming candy and ice cream shop in Kingston. read more

Great candy store. Stopped here two weeks ago and the best ice cream I've ever had (made down the street at Janes). Staff was very friendly. read more

The owner will post your account and review in Facebook if you give her a bad review. When I went, we weren't helped or greeted. The two young ladies working just gossiped the whole time. read more

I just adore this place. Diane is beyond lovely and is always baking some wonderful surprise. Thrilled that this place exists. Satisfies a very refined sweet tooth like mine. Lived here only a few weeks and I am a regular!! read more

Just the best shop to stop into if you need something to cheer yourself up,make some one else's day. All around great feeling from Nostalgic offerings to decadent delights! And meeting the owner, Sheer joy!! Yummy read more

Unfortunately I arrived around 2p on a Saturday afternoon and there were no fresh treats left. I was disappointed I didn't get to try anything fresh but checked out what they had for a minute. The shop is tiny and the worker didn't even acknowledge my presence. Maybe if in the area earlier in the day I may try again. read more

We LOVED the vegan donuts at Rough Draft, so we wanted to stop by and buy them directly from the source. We walked in, and the person behind the counter asked "Can I help you?" in a very hostile tone of voice. We were taken aback and said "Oh, aren't you open?" Instead of a simple "I'm sorry, we're closed", they said "No, we're closed. It says so on the door. It even says *why* we're closed on the door." Every word steeped in hostility. If you're going to be that upset when someone accidentally comes in (during your business hours!), lock the door! After exiting, we noticed that there was a sign on the door, but it's hard to notice because the door and windows are smothered with all kinds of papers. The person behind the counter appeared to be about 13 years old, so I don't really blame them, but getting attitude from a middle schooler was not a nice touch. We'll continue going to Rough Draft for our donut fix. read more

What's not to love? Tons of candy and chocolate choice. Plus they were playing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! We'll have to come back for their delicious looking ice cream. read more

Great addition to uptown Kingston! Amazing truffles and James ice cream (the best) and LOTS of fun things that kids would LOVE! Like a huge snake made out of gummy bears on display (kids can touch the squishy snake) and they have an "untouched" snake to purchase. Candy of course-many varieties. Today I walked in and they were making homemade doughnuts. The smell was amazing! Don't miss this unique candy bar on Wall Street!! Plus the owner Diane is the best person soooo sweet and a Culinary Institute trained chef! read more

Sweet place sweet people. Great customer service. The only place I have seen a 30lb snake gummy. Look forward to going back soon. read more

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Reminiscent of the Woodstock Folk Art (remember that great place?) where you can load up on new and old timey candy at a reasonable price. It's sensory overload for kids and adults alike. The shop is decorated like a Willy Wonka dream and has kids movies (think Wizard of Oz) on the TV overhead. They serve delicious egg creams and different treats and the owner makes homemade and creative donuts, usually with a daily theme. Play some games outside (think Battleship and Connect 4) with a scoop of Jane's Ice Cream that your kids will LOVE. This place is an Uptown gem. And to the negative reviewers, stick a jaw breaker in it, you Augustus Gloop (Google it)! read more

Won't be returning. Some delicious goodies, but the owner was very hostile at my last visit (questioned my purchase and what it was for, made me stand around waiting while I was the only customer in the store). Her employees were visibly uncomfortable. I've made a few purchases here in the past, but I'll be taking my business elsewhere now whenever I'm looking for a treat or a gift. It's just not worth her negativity. read more

If it's sugar you want, it is sugar you will have. Diane is simply the sweetest human being, so it's hardly surprising she opened the sweetest little shop in uptown Kingston. My kiddo loves grabbing handfuls of all sorts of goodies, and I'm a big fan of the vintage treats like gummy coke bottles! (my all time fave) She's also got Jane's ice cream, makes these awesome doughnuts and has promised me that she'll make me deep fried peanut butter cups sometime. I love this joint, and you'll dig it too. read more

Delicious ice cream! Killer chocolate is so good. Friendly staff and literally every kind of candy you can imagine.

I have to agree with others here. Their prices for ordinary candy easily found in any supermarket are outrageously high. Their donuts are another joke: Simple, standard dough just grotesquely decorated in different ways and then offered at insanely high prices. I made the grave error of asking the woman behind the counter if she had any sugar-free ice cream. She showed me one flavor of pre-packaged ice cream in a tiny cup at a crazy price and said it was made with "agave nectar", as if I was stupid or something. When I reminded her that, metabolically, agave nectar registers the same as sugar, she shrieked with laughter loudly enough to make the other sole customer in the store look, and said "even if I did, all the syrups contain sugar so what's the point", then resumed laughing at me. She was clearly trying to belittle me into giving in from sheer humiliation and eating her sugary, overpriced crap. Instead, I informed her that most better ice cream parlors these days offer sugar-free choices to their customers, and that I prefer to spend my money in a store that respects its patrons rather than laughing in their faces - for their own shortcomings, no less! With that, I marched right out. Don't waste your time or money in this dinky overpriced dump. read more

An update almost 1 year later and my comments still stand true. Stories still in shambles, no homemade sweets and high priced candy you can buy in the grocery store. I did get two scoops of Jane's ice cream and this was delicious. They were out or low on most flavors. read more

The candy was stale and the store is junky and cluttered. This place could be so much more with proper management.

The Uptown Kingston food scene is really coming to life! If you haven't been in a while, make it happen! The Kingston Candy Bar is an adorable, fun spot for a quick dessert (homemade confections, Jane's ice cream, etc.). OR, you can fill a bag with every type of penny candy imaginable and take it home to savor while enjoying the nostalgia of it all. Great for adults and kids! read more

The atmosphere is great and the vintage style candies are wonderful. I love a socially responsible business model and I love wax lips--need I say more? read more

This store is great. The candy was super fresh and the owner knew her shit and knew her inventory. Definitely a sweet tooth heaven!

It's so cute and lovely in here, and the staff is very warm and helpful. They could use a bit higher quality ingredients, but I've been spoiled by local chocolatiers who are phenomenal back home. Nevertheless, I find the prices reasonable, and I love the movies they play in the background. :) read more

I went in to purchase some candy for a friend. I was the only customer in the store. While helping me to pick out some candy her cell phone rang. It was a personal call that was just chit chat. After 2 or 3 minutes of standing there while she chatted away I left and made my purchase elsewhere. This place does not care about customer service. No wonder the store didn't have any other customers. read more

Went there with my daughter during the chronogram block party, and just got half a handful of m&ms and it amounted to $7! I asked if the scale was correct and the girl just gave me a blank stare and said yes. As my 2 yr old daughter was fussy and overwhelmed with her surroundings, I bought them anyway. But never again will I buy from this store. The prices are outrageous. read more

We walked in from the Saturdays farmers market and asked what kind of doughnuts they had--the woman was making peanut butter cream filled reeces-pieces candy/cup topped chocolate ganache covered donuts fresh and promised if we came back in 15 min she would have one ready. We were not disappointed. The doughnut was fresh, warm, soft, cream filling not too sweet and beautifully decorated. Split it between 2 people. We'll be back for a fresh doughnut next time! read more

What a great little candy shop! Incredibly friendly staff, and a huge selection of treats. Nice selection of Janes ice cream as well.

Great selection of the old fashioned candies and a few locally made things too, no more driving to new Paltz for a Lagustas fix and was able to try another local chocolate by fruition too. Can't go often lol too dangerous! read more

The best peanut butter cups you have had in the past two decades. Chocolate covered bacon shaped like little piggies! Rocky road chocolate cup with dried cherries and cranberries and pecans! Beautiful little pyramids of white chocolate with cookie crumbles. Gorgeous enrobed Oreos and Milanos. Tons of old fashioned candies from when you were little (or before you were little!). Cinnamon roll waffles which I just can't even express how delicious they are. Smoothies and shakes and Jane's Ice Cream and flavored sodas. I can't list it all, but you really oughta get over there and check it out. You will be glad you did. read more

I have been in tourist town candy stores before, but never one with half this much variety. They have pretty much every single "penny candy" you can remember, and a whole ton of new ones, too. For the more conservative, they make sure to have a few old favorite mini candy bars - Kit Kats and such. Lately they have been making donuts and all I can say is - these are not your average donuts. They are much much lighter, far more beautiful, made with amazing fresh ingredients (one I got last week had raspberry mousse in it, made with fresh raspberries. Truly scrumptious. There was filling in every bite!). Their vegan donuts are the best donuts I have ever had, and I am not a vegan and am not a fan of vegan. If you like ice cream, they serve Jane's, which is served at the fanciest places in NYC, too. read more