Fun in every way possible! This is a wonderful spot for a casual meal, quick beverage, buying candy, or playing arcade games. My wife and I stopped by on a Saturday for a tour of the candy making facility, where we learned a lot about how the chocolates and other candies are made, and we were even able to design and enjoy our own custom chocolate bar. This place has everything that a fan of sweets and fun can enjoy - retro candy, a colorful environment, and enthusiastic staff. From our tour with Joy, our complimentary sea salt caramel from Barbara, everybody on staff provided a joyous afternoon. The tour is highly recommended, where you'll get to see how the product is made, and even get to see one of the original Golden tickets from the original Wonka movie. Pricing for the tour is very reasonable, and it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Parking was easy right around the corner from the front entrance. If you're in the Jacksonville area, this is a fun event for people of all ages! read more

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The minute you walk in you are treated to their signature salted Carmel which was delicious! The staff are lovely and there seems like they are well staffed and understaffed at the same time? It felt like a lot of Indians with no clear chief. The tour starts in the chocolate room, gotta love that! Chocolate covered chips, cookies, marshmallows and fudge all around. The restaurant was filled with dirty tables, the bar was in disarray. The food portions looked small however at least it kept coming out! The owners family has been in the candy business for years and he still works there everyday, that's awesome! :)) I'm glad we checked it out. Thank you Sweet Petes! You can trust me, I am a candy eating American. ;D read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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We had lunch downtown and afterwards my husband booked us a tour of this wonderful candy store. Upon arrival, one of the staff members gave us a sea salt caramel sample and it was delicious. We then checked in for our tour with the cashier. The cost of our tour was only eight dollars and included the making of a chocolate bar with three ingredients of our choosing. Joy was our tour guide and did a fabulous job of giving us a little history of the building as well as tons of information about all of the candy they make on-site and sell in the store. We also got a great view of the kitchen where the chocolate and lollipops are made. This was a beautiful store and the tour was very informative. I highly recommend it. Plenty of great picture taking opportunities as well. read more

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I had my 15yo daughter write a review. "We visited Sweet Pete's Candy Store twice this week with different groups and both experiences were fun and memorable. The staff were friendly, informative, and genuinely seemed to enjoy being there, which made a big difference in the atmosphere. The pricing can be a bit confusing. Some items had small signs nearby that we had to search for, others were labeled directly on the items, and a few weren't priced at all. The lollipop class was both informative and enjoyable. The instructor was fantastic with the younger ones and still managed to keep the attention of the teenagers. You could tell he was experienced in speaking to a crowd and skilled at condensing a lot of information into something easy to follow. We got to watch him make a lollipop completely from scratch, from pouring the boiling sugar onto the table to mixing and twisting the colors into a swirl for us to shape ourselves. The second visit was for a chocolate bar making class. We had the same instructor, which was great, and this time he had another candy maker helping because there were almost twice as many people. Together they managed a very excited group of children beautifully. I went on a similar field trip here about two years ago, where instead of making the bars ourselves, we filled out little menu cards choosing our toppings and type of chocolate, and the staff made them for us while we went on a tour. Personally, I preferred that setup. This time, the toppings were left completely up to the kids, which led to a few of them putting their hands in the bowls instead of using the spoons provided. I understand that isn't Sweet Pete's fault and falls more on the parents' supervision, but it did affect the overall experience for me. Overall, Sweet Pete's continues to be a great destination for both education and fun. For a more educational and hands-on experience, I recommend the lollipop class. For a more kid-focused activity, the chocolate bar class is a hit." read more

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We were so excited to go to this candy store but sadly we were disappointed. It felt a little dirty and the candy bins were low/empty. Shelves didn't have a lot on them. Tours were sold out for the day so we did our own tour but the place is smaller than expected. We spent about 10 minutes here and left. This place has so much potential but sadly we didn't see it. read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

What a beautifully decorated candy shop! We have never been , so decided to go for lunch on a Monday. We were greeted with a salted caramel. It was a little confusing as to where to get lunch at in this huge Candy mansion, and we were led to a dining area. You take a menu and order at a bar/counter. The menu is big, and colorful. Lots of food choices. We ordered burgers, and fries. The food was good, but I'm sure most people come for the candy. You could spend a few hours inside enjoying the beautiful decor, and trying to decide which candies to buy. Parking on a weekday was easy, and we found available parking behind the building. read more

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If you are in downtown Jacksonville or close to the area and looking for something fun to do go check out Sweet Pete's Candy, take a tour, join a candy making class, eat and grab or drink or just shop in the candy store. There is something fun and exciting for everyone no matter the age. When you walk in you are instantly greeted and offered Pete's famous Carmel which is so amazingly delicious I couldn't get enough I had to buy myself a bag for $7.99. Not to bad read more

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Hubby and I were trying to hunt down a Dubai chocolate bar so we stopped by Sweet Pete's Candy. Unfortunately, they had sold out earlier that day. We took advantage of the time and walked around to check the place out. There was a lot going on! From classes, tours and a party venue to gourmet chocolates, old fashioned candies and a restaurant! This place has everything you could ask for. We picked up a couple chocolate bars because why not? We tried the gimme s'mores milk chocolate bar and the chip chip hooray milk chocolate bar. Both were delicious! The chocolate was smooth and rich in flavor with plenty of mix-ins. With so much to explore, we will be back soon! read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

In the midst of construction and the noise of the city this whimsical candy store is a magical place. You can watch them make chocolate and take a class to make your own. The staff will give you a tour and you will learn tidbits of candy history that you never knew like the lollipop was named after lollipop the horse. There was so much to take in that I'm sure I missed plenty. Aside from the bins of candy where you could fill up little bags with candy from your childhood there was an ice cream parlor. They may have other food, but I am not sure. I did see groups of adults sitting in the parlor area. Definitely will be back to check out this place again. read more

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Such a cool place! Super expensive, but the experience was worth it. We attended a Fall Apple class there and it was really fun. We will most definitely be back! read more

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Sadly this place has taken a turn toward commercialism. They used to be like a mom and pop with fresh candy. Things seemed to be old and dated. Overheard an upset person who was being ignored while ordering a meal. Also seemed as if the prices had increased a lot. Certainly not a usual spot to go to enjoy fresh candy. Disappointing. read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

The tour was tedious, the make your own chocolate bar is disappointing. You don't make it. The use an existing bar and put toppings on it. Their chocolate is above average and I would buy from them but not do the tour. read more

Candy making class was so fun and the seasonal decor is top tier. Sweet Pete's Candy is always a good time.

We had an amazing time today at Sweet Pete's Candy with a school field trip! I was the bus driver today and had so much fun! This was my first time doing the tours. First off they take the class to the parlor and talk with them about how to make candy and the importance of all the ingredients. As they go around to the different rooms on the tour they bring that discussion back up so they have a reference. After the tour they take the class back to the parlor and there they show them hands on how to make the candy. The kids were able to pick the color and flavor. They also showed them how to make the lollipop. They actually were able to make 4 different types of candy shapes and take them home. Our class also had the lunch package. After the tour guide/candy chef was done they setup for lunch. I was actually very impressed with their field trip processes and lunches! I had a hamburger and fries which were very good. After lunch the kids (5 graders) were able to walk around the store and purchase candy. I'm so glad I was able to attend and help out with driving today! Definitely will be back to Sweet Pete's! Thank you Sweet Pete's for such a great day and awesome experience today! read more

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I had a Groupon deal for the chocohalic tour experience. It is originally priced at 20 dollars, but got this for about 8 bucks after promotions. It included a 45 minute tour, build your own candy bar, samples of chocolate chips, and ice cream. I booked the tour for new years eve at 11. When I arrived, I was greeted by a friendly host, who directed me upstairs to wait in that area. I waited a couple minutes at the shop in the second floor, then headed to the third floor area for the experience. The experience was supposed to start at noon, but it started about 10 minutes later due to other guests arriving a bit late. When it started, we were given a plastic plate with samples of chocolate chips. Our host explained each type of chocolate in our samples. Once we were done, we were given a tour of the chocolate factory, located in the second floor. We got to see how the chocolate was made and packaged, the we went back to the third floor, for a small scoop of ice cream with the fudge sauce. The tour lasted for about 45 minutes, then we went downstairs to shop and get our build your own chocolate bar. While I felt the tour was a bit mundane, it was informative and the samples were delicious. For the Groupon price, it was well worth it cost, but I think it would have been too expensive for regular price of 20 dollars. I loved the decorations they had all over the shop. I didn't try the restaurant at the first floor, but it looked pretty simple and casual. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The costs of the candies were pretty expensive, but you are paying for the higher quality. Visiting the shop and factory is free, but paying for the tour included the guide and samples. I parked in the street and paid about 5 dollars for 2 hours. Waking to the shop was pretty quick and easy. While the tour could have been more entertaining, I really enjoyed the chocolate samples and the ice cream (which was chocolate and tasted like Hagan Daz). Some of the kids got bored and played with their phones, but they enjoyed the chocolates as well. The five stars is really for the great chocolates. I did enjoy my build your own candy bar, which I got milk chocolate with coconut, peanut, and cayenne pepper. Definitely use the Groupon deal when booking this tour for the best price! read more

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Sweet Pete's brings sweetness to Jax! The ambiance of this place is unmatched, it feels like walking into the Willy wonka chocolate factory! This place is great for ALL ages... and I emphasize all for a reason! They offer many different classes that involve candy making and cocktails and they offer very educational tours where they teach you all about chocolate and candy making as well. Don't even get me started on their candy lol!!! You just have to see this place to believe it!!! Plus the amount of history surrounding this building is insanely interesting in itself!! We were told that Teddy Rosevelt gave a speech from this very building during our chocolate covered strawberry making class! I love sweet Pete's! read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Candy themed tree - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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I had an amazing time with my husband and son! We took the tour and they showed us how the candy was made, and explained to us about the different types of chocolate, (which I kind of already knew) lol but I was still really fun. They showed us how all their chocolate and candy was made. Then later gave us samples of ice cream with their delicious chocolate sauce and then after we were done, we got our chocolate bars made. It was customized and then after we checked out the store. We all got some candy. There was a girl at the front desk. That was really nice. She helped me pick out some candies. I wasn't sure because I was overwhelmed with the selection of chocolates lol she was even nice enough to give me a free sample. My son loved it because there was a little mini arcade too in the store so he had fun playing on the games then after we all had lunch, the food was delicious. my husband got a patty melt and I got a turkey sandwich and we got this appetizer sampler everything was absolutely delicious!! read more

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The food was kind of as you expect for somewhere like this! Nothing fancy by any means. The candy, ice cream, chocolate and other treats is why you're going here so I wasn't bothered! The prices are steep but I imagine coming here once a year would be a little kids dream come true! I got $12 worth of candy and it will last me a day but that's okay because it was so magical and cute! It was very clean! The workers were all very kind and helpful! I can't wait to go back for milkshakes! I will be going back to get candy for gingerbread houses in December! read more

Description Went by Jacksonville and looked up things on google to do that was close by. Thank you to the person that explained the tours to me and was willing to squeeze me in at 4pm but the time wasn't convenient but they said we can go in the rest of the building. This is a two floor building with the first floor having a restaurant with food and full bar as well and many....many different kinds of different flavored sodas. When you first walk there there's different lollipop styles, in another room it's more chocolate based and upstairs you can get a bag and fill it up with candy that they have in containers. Met the owner and Barbara at the entrance which both were very kind as well as the other employees. When you walk in you get a sample candy which was a salted caramel type which was good. What I ordered I got the Prosecco cotton candy and to my surprise it is Prosecco with cotton candy on top of the glass for some reason not what I had in mind. We also got 4 sodas. The Mr. cola was very good taste like a clean version of Coca Cola and so was the lemon merengue soda. We bought 2 cookies and cream chocolate bars and a rocky road which were delicious. Value Depending what you get the value varies. The bigger the candy the more it cost. The sodas were about $5 each which isn't bad due to the unique flavors I've never seen anywhere else. Ambiance/Crowd This is an all age friendly place. Service The owner, Barbara and everyone else sorry that I didn't get everyone's name were awesome! Parking Snap parking area that I saw next to the place. I did go on a Sunday early before Memorial Day so there was lots of street parking available. 4 year olds thought corner He felt like he was in heaven and stated that he loved being here. read more

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I had out of town guests and wanted them to experience Sweet Pete's first hand! I've been a big fan since Pete was in a tiny house off main street and offered homeschooling candy classes! (Maybe 20 years ago!) The quality of the products have remained amazing & consistent, which is something special to me! I got to share with my new family many stories of how we have loved this place over the years! (from lollipop classes to taffy pulls to sharing desserts, to music on the front porch and my daughters engagement shower in the restaurant there) But.. i wanted to share something very overwhelming about this visit. While shopping in the candy shop upstairs I mentioned to the young gentleman working that my friend was trying to come up, but don't be alarmed that she had headphones on and sunglasses because she has a disorder that causes seizures to sounds and sights from over stimulation. She came upstairs and the employee immediately asked me quietly if turning off the music and dimming the lights would help her. I literally clutched my hand to my heart and said... Yes! He did so. She was able to shop and enjoy the experience so much. You have no idea what that loving act meant to us as a family. The candy is amazing and made perfectly...thats a given. I give it a 20 out of 10! BUT... the kindness shown is a 10,000! ....and will forever be appreciated! This is why we shop and love local stores! Pete: you have a lot to be proud of! read more

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This was a fun place. It's great that you cannot only come to the candy, but also for a quick, casual meal. We got the cheeseburger, hotdog, and chicken nuggets for the little one. The food was actually, surprisingly, pretty good. We also tried their Creamsicle colada and the "grown up in a candy store" mocktail. The mocktail had ginger beer, strawberry purée, lime juice, and orange syrup. It was tasty, as was the creamsicle colada. We also went up to the candy floor that had old school candy, a variety of chocolates, and gummies. We added our favorite chocolates to a box of candy for $6. If you decide to use a bag, they weigh the bags and charge $22 a pound. I look forward to stopping back by Sweet Pete's for ice cream, milkshakes, and the homemade candy bars. The apple pie bar sounded very interesting! read more

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The food? Meh. I've had more exciting meals at jury duty. We ordered two "fancy" milkshakes, but apparently, the "fancy" part didn't get the memo. No chocolate garnish, no pizzazz--just two sad milkshakes wondering where their accessories went. Then I got adventurous and bought some peanut butter eggs--two milk chocolate, two dark chocolate. The dark chocolate ones were like, "Surprise! No peanut butter for you!" Just chocolate with trust issues. Thankfully, the milk chocolate ones actually had peanut butter inside, so they alone carried the team. read more

Listen here pal. You didnt give me my waffle cones when i asked. I had four dollars, and that beautiful lady told me i can have waffle cones for it. But that man then said i couldnt have it. What a disgrace. I have never received this bad of service. Shame on you. I cried that day when i didnt get my waffle cones. You WILL be remembered. I cant believe this. read more

During spring break my sister and I took the kids to to a marshmallow and chocolate making class. This was right up the kids alley We were great downstairs and we received armband which allowed us to enter the class. The class was hosted on the 3rd floor but there is a elevator for those who need it. Our chocolatier was so friendly and and we met other families there . The kid did a lot of hands stuff with the marshmallows and decorating their candy. But there favorite part was eating it. It was so cool and my kids have been asking to go back every day lol read more

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I really liked the candy tour! I learned how chocolate is made and got to sample chocolates and get my own chocolate bar! They have a restaurant with happy hour specials and cool drinks!!! read more

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I received a gift card for Sweet Pete's so I decided to start our family day off with a gummy candy making class. The service was phenomenal from the very beginning. I ran into problems using the gift card online. When I called I was advised the gift cards have to be in store or via phone. The original class I wanted to attend was sold out, the manager on the phone said "no worries, I will open a class for you." She created a whole new class for us to attend! That was amazing! This was our first time at Sweet Pete's, we loved all the Christmas decor and the bright and cheerful regular decor of the building. The class was fun and full of information. It was cool trying all the different types of gummy candies. The kids enjoyed making their own candy. Downstairs is the diner we enjoyed some milkshakes which were delicious. Our visit was great and we will be back again to try a different class. read more

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I'm on the fence about this place. Most of the time the staff are amazing. They occasionally have some staff working who aren't friendly. Yesterday was one of those days. It was my daughter's bday and the staff were horrible. Not friendly. Not helpful. Not smiling. Talked about wanting to leave to go home. This is where kids enjoy going. They need to put their feelings to the side and smile while there. They messed up on my order and I didn't even bother sending it back. The way the staff were I was too scared my food would be contaminated with spit it something. The lady working the food area didn't explain anything. She was just ready to go and it was clear. While we were eating I saw her walking down the street. One lady was working upstairs where the candy is. My daughter had a huge gum ball that she was getting. It could stay in the scoop so she picked it Up to put in her box. The young black girl Started yelling that she's touching. Umm she is because I'm buying it. And talk with some respect and kindness. read more

We just had a field trip here with my child's school. We had a great time, Mr. Pete himself had demonstrated some skillful candy making tricks, the kids had fun making their own lollipop! The store is super cute with beautiful decorations and unique candies, I would definitely recommend this adorable place to anyone, especially if you have little kids, they would love it here! I had the chicken salad for lunch $12, it was a generous portion, chicken tasted good a bit dried but overall, not bad for it not being an actual restaurant. The kids meal is great, biggest and waffle fries. read more

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One of 904's Best Places to visit this X'Mas Season! We booked the tour with 4 of our friends who were new to JAX and tried different kinds of chocolate and learned that white chocolate is not real as it does not have any Cocoa Solids. Good to know. There were many places that we visited at the location-even where they have a presentation of how they make the candy and taffy a la' Willy Wonka plus some machinery from Germany from the 1920's that they still use today. Very cool! It was an awesome experience and we highly recommend to visit Sweet Pete's as it is fun for all ages and sweet tooths of the world :) read more

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If ever in Jacksonville, please go to Sweet Pete's Candy. This place is an experience. Fantastically decorated. Many photo opportunities. Now the Candy is delectable. Some of the best gummy candy I have ever had. Take the tours very interesting and interactive. The service was wonderful. Ooo...and they give samples of their salted caramels. So so so good! read more

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Fun, cute candy shop, kid friendly, you can watch them make the candy on site. Cool decorations, variety, has two party rooms, indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Willy Wonka vibes in the air!!! Sweet Pete's was so fun!! Literally eye candy and literal candy!!! The cool observation decks are just perfection! The menu is a smorgasbord of goodies from shakes, ice cream cones and toppings, fries, crispy tater tots and onion rings! My husband's favorite Chicago dog! It was worth devouring this classic! I had the famous tarragon chicken salad! So flavorful! We a fun Guinness shake with vanilla ice cream and a strawberry shake with extra strawberries! The patrons are from all over the map! Young and older young! This brings out the kid in everyone!!! Every room was full of sweet treats and there's also sugar free and dairy free choices. I was thoroughly impressed as the "kid in a candy store" inside me had a Foodie Adventure dreamscape to play in!!! I can't wait to come back with my adult children and see them time warp back to their childhood self. Don't forget to take cool pictures and get some fun edible treats and souvenirs :) read more

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It has been a while since I'd been there and was surprised to see the restaurant was gone but I like that the ice cream parlor is downstairs now. You can still order food just not as much. The ice cream was delicious! They allow you to rate test, the names are quite cute for some so you definitely need to test taste. It was all good but I'm a banana girl and my niece liked graham crackers. Make sure you visit all the floors, definitely a selfie spot everywhere's read more

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We went in thinking it was just a candy store and we might find something fun... This place is a whole adventure! From the whimsical decor, the amazingly welcoming staff (and a free caramel!). After purchasing some sweets, we stopped for lunch. Delicious! read more

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Looks like I didn't get food poisoning. I got the worst stomach virus I've ever had. I'm sorry I accused the cooks but the way I was sick fit until my son contracted the same thing. I hope this off sets the other one. read more

Please do not come here. It is great for the aesthetics. On the other hand, the food could be better. Most of our food was overcooked or completely wrong. The drink taste like they came out of a dishwasher. My patty was so overcooked I could barely bite it. We also got some wings. The wings were so tough and dry. Let's also add that there is mayonnaise on the table that doesn't get refrigerated. I wouldn't be surprised if half of this food had already been sitting out. It was just reheated up. You are better off chugging two bottles of sand with no water than to eat the food. I bet the desserts are what carries this place read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - LOOK AT THIS...is it raw or is it cooked - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

If you are visiting Jacksonville, this is Must See! Ditto if you live here. The decor is amazing, the staff is friendly and the chocolate is to die for. This is a local treasure and we are happy to support local! Wonderful re-use of a historic downtown building. read more

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Looking for a great place to take your sweet tooth? Look no further, Sweet Pete's is the Disney world for sweet teeth n candy enthusiasts. The literally have every form of candy, from traditional bubble by the foot to candy with bugs in it. Candy from different childhoods like Abba Zabba and sugar sticks to Chocolate Twizzlers. You can watch them make their own candy. They have theme rooms for events. The decor is vibrant and fun. Great place for group events and family friendly outings. There is a restaurant in the building, I'll go back to try the food. Overall, definitely a must go destination, downtown (across the street from City Hall). Relive your childhood candy memories or create new adventures with different candy. I hope you have fun, I did. read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - 2nd floor dining - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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This place is a candy lover's dream! I am loving all the holiday decor. They also have a super fun drink menu My favorite is the ice cream here! This place is not just for the kiddos. read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Beautiful Xmas chandelier - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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I don't know if it was just a bad timing thing or not, but it took over 45 minutes to get our side order of fries, corn dog, pretzel & corn nuggets. There were plenty of tables open, so maybe they were short staffed? The Bavarian pretzel was hard as a rock like the hard ones you buy at the store in a bag. The beer cheese was hard and cold. The fries were good with cheese sauce. They were out of ranch. The corn nuggets were good, but they were out of ranch the dipping sauce: By the time we got our food it was cool. We had to ask for it and someone went looking. I have a tip, but didn't get any service like napkins or forks or anything so next time I'll tip less or not tip at all. We then ordered a cookie & cream crumble milkshake and a scoop of strawberry ice cream. The wait was super long. The building, the store and the idea of this place is amazing. Hoping we went at an off day. The best thing we ate were the waffle fries with the cheese sauce. Definitely will try again and hope for a better experience read more

Sweet Pete's Candy - Corn dog, hard dried Bavarian pretzel, beer cheese, waffle fries with cheese sauce (recommend the fries) - Candy Stores Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida