Philadelphia Candy Store Named One Of The Best In The Country
In Philadelphia, a locally owned candy store was just named one of the best in the country by USA Today’s 10Best. They recently published a report highlighting some of America’s best candy stores. One of the primary criteria here was that they needed to be independently owned. The other was, “They offer the chance to discover new flavors, support local businesses, and enjoy a fun and nostalgic experience.”
USA Today’s 10Best list takes us into many small towns in all corners of the country to identify these great spots for sweet treats. However, the best candy store in Pennsylvania is right in the heart of the city. In fact, this candy store was one of only three on the entire east coast to be named.
Shane Confectionery – Philadelphia
The origins of Shane Confectionary go back to 1863. This technically makes it “America’s Oldest Candy Store.” 10BEST explains, “This Philadelphia candy store originally began as a wholesale confectionery supplies business in 1863 before being purchased by the Shane family in 1910.”
Today Shane Confectionery offers baked goods, ice cream, fresh chocolate, and gifts in their store. That’s all in addition to traditional fruit and gummy candy. Much of it is made fresh onsite. They are located at 110 Market St. in Philadelphia.
Their mission is to interpret “the historic candy and chocolate-making traditions of Philadelphia.” In 2016 Shane Confectionery began a tour program. They now offer customers the ability to explore their iconic shop. This tour shows where the candies are made and gives a walking guide into the rooms with the best candy store in Pennsylvania that have over 100 years worth of history. This has been so successful that the program has now expanded into tastings, talks, and workshops for guests of all age groups.
A 'Definitive' Ranking Of The 5 Fast-Food Restaurants
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) recently shared a study that details the top fast-food chains in the country based on customer satisfaction. While I agree with the top choice, the others are questionable. And hey, taste is subjective. I’m something of a fast-food restaurant connoisseur. So, here I will re-rank the country’s top five fast-food restaurant chains based on personal experience. (Hence, “Definitive” in quotes in the headline.)
First, let’s examine the numbers in this report, as there are certainly some valuable points to consider. It appears as if their customer satisfaction entails 11 important factors. These include areas such as the accuracy of food orders, staff courtesy, and cleanliness. Another important measurement these days is the efficiency of the chain’s app.
The ACSI report is based on 16,250 customers who were surveyed. Their top five looked like this:
- #1 Chick-fil-A
- #2 Jimmy Johns
- #3 KFC
- #4 Papa John
- #5 Domino’s
Technically “other” landed at number three, but for the sake of top brands, that is the top of the list.
Re-Ranking Methodology
While I do like the variety in cuisine displayed in ACSI’s list, I am surprised at many of the names I see there. To create this ranking, I did follow and considered the customer satisfaction criteria previously laid out in the survey. Though I am a drive-thru-first type of person, I will quickly peel out of the parking lot if I detect the joint doesn’t look like it takes cleanliness seriously. Regardless of how much I am craving that chicken sandwich. In other words, those scored questions are legit measurements.
It’s worth mentioning that I travel quite a bit as well. Whether taking my kids to a weekend lacrosse tournament or heading south to visit family, a fast-food meal is often all I have time for. Nonetheless, I don’t just stop for anything, and I do aim for the healthiest option possible (most of the time).
So, imagine I just pulled off a magical interstate exit where all of these fast food restaurants had an open establishment. I’m considering the criteria points ACSI has laid out, and looking for a quality meal. Here is my official re-ranking of the top five fast-food restaurant chains in the country.
*Side-note, the ACSI also includes statistic results on full-service chain restaurants. That is not applicable to my ranking, but Chili’s is the clear number one, with all the rest being second.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
