Kids And Grown-Ups Alike Go Wild For This Nebraska Candy Shop With Over 3,000 Treats
A paper-eating dragon and an experimental airplane share space with a mountain of chocolate at one roadside candy store. Yes, that airplane hangs right from the ceiling.
The shelves hold more than 3,000 items, from retro wrappers to Nebraska-made jerky. There’s even a free Kool-Aid bar, which feels fitting in the state that gave the world that drink.
I like how the whole place started with just four flavors of chocolate meltaways. Milk, dark, milk mint and dark orange kicked off the operation, and those little squares still steal the show.
I believe every road trip deserves one stop that turns grown adults back into wide-eyed kids. This one sits on a familiar Nebraska highway between two big cities, so how long could you browse before your basket overflows?
A Candy Stop Worth Hitting The Brakes For
Plenty of drivers on US Highway 6 have spotted the sign and wondered what’s inside. Baker’s Candies answers that question with one of the biggest sweet-tooth stops in the state.
The shop sits in Greenwood, a small Nebraska town between Omaha and Lincoln. That location makes it an easy detour for anyone shuttling between the two cities.
Officially, Google lists it as a candy store. That label feels a little modest once you see how much ground the place covers.
The outlet store holds more than 3,000 items, according to the owners themselves. Chocolate is the headliner, but the supporting cast includes taffy, soda, popcorn, jerky and a long list of Nebraska-made goods.
It’s also a family business, and the owners say so with obvious pride. They describe the company as built on the backs of their own family, which explains the homegrown feel.
A quick word about expectations helps here. This isn’t a century-old counter, and it doesn’t advertise hand-pulled taffy, so come for what it truly does best.
What it does best is variety, chocolate and fun. That combination is plenty to justify a U-turn on a long drive.
Four Little Flavors That Launched The Whole Sweet Story
Every candy empire needs an origin story, and this one is refreshingly simple. It began with chocolate meltaways in just four flavors.
Those first flavors were milk, dark, milk mint and dark orange. The owners have shared that those originals remain their personal favorites even now.
Baker’s Candies has been around since 1987, which makes it a newer chapter in Nebraska food history. Still, nearly four decades of chocolate is nothing to shrug at.
Meltaways are the kind of candy that earned the name fairly. They’re smooth, rich squares meant to soften on your tongue rather than demand a hard bite.
Many travelers already know the Baker’s name from those signature bags of chocolates. Some drive past for years assuming that’s all the shop sells, which turns out to be a big underestimate.
The growth from four flavors to thousands of products tells you plenty about this family’s ambition. They kept the original idea front and center while building a whole destination around it.
So when you grab a bag of meltaways, you’re holding the very thing that started it all. That’s a pretty tasty piece of local history to toss in the car.
The Meltaways Still Run The Show
Ask what makes this stop famous, and the answer comes back fast. The chocolate meltaways remain the true stars of the store.
The shelves carry plenty of varieties, from classic milk to deep dark chocolate. Mint lovers have options too, and sugar-free choices make the lineup friendlier for folks watching their sugar.
Here’s a perk that feels almost too generous. You can sample the chocolates before committing, which helps you settle the eternal milk versus dark debate.
Even better, the store lets you create your own mix of meltaway varieties. There’s no extra charge for building a custom assortment, so indecisive shoppers can simply have it all.
Dark chocolate fans tend to gravitate toward the richer options. Meanwhile, the mint and orange flavors keep the original 1987 spirit alive on the shelves.
Wholesale options are available as well, which matters if you’re stocking up for an office or a big family gathering. Bulk chocolate has a funny way of becoming everyone’s favorite coworker gift.
Whatever you pick, start here before wandering the rest of the aisles. Everything else in the building is fun, but the meltaways are the reason the doors opened.
Free Kool-Aid And A Little Nebraska Pride
Nebraska invented Kool-Aid, and Hastings still gets the credit for it. This shop leans into that hometown fact in the most refreshing way possible.
A free Kool-Aid bar lets you taste different flavors while you browse. It’s cold, colorful and a genuine flashback for anyone who grew up with a pitcher in the fridge.
The owners call it a childhood memory many people share. They’ve even compared the feeling to being a kid in a chocolate factory, which is hard to argue with here.
Out-of-state travelers sometimes learn the Kool-Aid origin story right at this counter. That’s a nice bonus lesson to go with a sugar rush.
Sipping while shopping also slows you down in a good way. You’ll notice more shelves, more oddball snacks and more reasons to add one more item.
For Nebraskans, it’s a small moment of state pride served in a paper cup. For visitors, it’s a fun conversation starter to bring home along with the candy.
Either way, it’s free, it’s cheerful and it fits the place perfectly. Not many candy stores hand you a slice of state history on the house.
Retro Wrappers You Forgot You Missed
Nostalgia hits hard in the retro candy aisles. Old wrappers, forgotten brands and childhood favorites line the shelves in cheerful rows.
The owners say they try to carry nearly every candy they can find. Their mix of nostalgic candies gets special attention, and new items keep arriving.
That means old-fashioned treats sit right alongside current favorites. You can grab something your grandparents loved and something your kids just discovered in the same trip.
Candy from long ago is a big part of the store’s charm. It turns shopping into a walk down memory lane, one sugary box at a time.
Families with grandparents along may find this section the most fun of all. Few things spark stories faster than spotting a candy that hasn’t crossed your mind in decades.
Many of these retro picks come from other manufacturers, not from Baker’s own kitchen. That’s fine, since the point is variety and the thrill of rediscovery.
Plan to linger longer than you expect. Hunting for one specific childhood treat can easily turn into ten minutes of happy wandering and a much heavier basket.
Barrels Of Saltwater Taffy And A Whole Taffy Wall
Taffy fans get their own corner of happiness here. The store features a taffy wall along with barrels of saltwater taffy in bright wrappers.
Let’s clear something up kindly. The shop doesn’t advertise pulling taffy by hand, so think of this as a fun grab-and-go selection rather than a kitchen demonstration.
That doesn’t make it any less tempting. Rows of wrapped pieces practically invite you to mix flavors and colors into one chewy bag.
Taffy also travels well, which makes it a smart pick for a long drive. It won’t melt the way chocolate might on a hot Nebraska summer afternoon.
Kids tend to love the scoop-it-yourself feel of a taffy barrel. Adults usually pretend they’re helping and then sneak a few pieces of their own.
Pair a handful of taffy with a bag of meltaways, and you’ve covered both chewy and creamy. That’s a well-rounded candy strategy for any road trip.
For anyone who came looking for classic taffy, this corner delivers plenty. Just come for the colorful variety, not for watching a taffy hook in action.
Build Your Own Bag At The Mix Wall
Decision fatigue meets its match at the mix-your-own wall. Instead of choosing one treat, you scoop a little of everything into a single bag.
It’s a playful way to shop, especially with kids who want a bit of every color. Grown-ups get the same thrill, even if they act more casual about it.
The wall works nicely alongside the custom meltaway assortments. Between the two, you can design a candy haul that fits your exact cravings.
Chocolate-covered pretzels, nuts and chips add a salty twist to the lineup. Sweet and salty together is a combination that rarely disappoints.
Customizing also makes gift-giving easier. A mixed bag tailored to a friend’s favorites feels more personal than a standard box from a gas station shelf.
The store is organized and easy to navigate, which helps when you’re bouncing between bins. Everything is laid out so you can find what you want without hunting forever.
Just keep an eye on the scale as you go. Those scoops add up quickly when every bin looks better than the last one.
An Entire Section Made In Nebraska
Surprise number one for many first-timers is how much here isn’t candy at all. A whole section celebrates products made right here in Nebraska.
The shelves include jams and jellies, spices, barbecue sauce and pickled items. Relishes, jarred veggies and popcorn round out the homegrown lineup nicely.
The owners say they try to carry about everything Nebraska makes. Their motto feels simple: things are better and fresher when they’re made in Nebraska.
It’s a smart way to support small producers from around the state. Shopping one aisle can connect you with farms and companies you’ve never heard of before.
Out-of-state travelers often treat this section as a souvenir shop. A jar of local jam says Nebraska far better than another keychain ever could.
Locals benefit too, since finding these goods in one spot saves plenty of driving. It’s a handy pantry run disguised as a candy trip.
Pies and potato chips also make appearances, depending on what’s stocked. Wander slowly here, because the variety rewards curiosity in ways a quick glance can easily miss.
Yes, There’s Beef Jerky Next To The Fudge
Meat in a candy store sounds like a joke, but it’s very real here. Local beef and sausages sit just a few aisles from the chocolate.
Products from Wahoo Meat Locker show up on the shelves. There’s also a large variety of beef jerky flavors for road trippers who need something savory.
Nebraska takes its beef seriously, so this section feels right at home. It’s a fun reminder that the state’s pride goes far beyond sweets.
Shoppers have even spotted bulk items like taco meat among the offerings. Selection can shift, so think of the meat case as a pleasant treasure hunt.
Fudge lovers, meanwhile, have their own reasons to cheer. The store carries fudge alongside its chocolates, giving you a creamy counterpoint to all that jerky.
Balancing sweet and savory makes a long drive much easier. A strip of jerky can reset your taste buds before the next round of meltaways.
Bring a cooler if you plan to grab anything perishable. Nobody wants to explain to the family why the sausages rode three hours in a warm trunk.
A Wall Of Old-Time Soda Bottles
Glass bottles in every color imaginable fill one memorable wall. It’s a soda lover’s dream and a photographer’s easy win.
The store stocks a large selection of old-fashioned bottled sodas. Classic brands like RC in a bottle have turned up on the shelves.
Bottled pop brings back that corner-store feeling many Nebraskans remember. There’s something satisfying about a cold glass bottle that a plastic one just can’t match.
Picking a flavor becomes its own little game. Unusual varieties sit next to familiar favorites, so curiosity usually wins over caution.
Families sometimes let each person choose a different bottle to share. It’s an affordable way to sample several flavors without committing to a whole case.
The soda wall pairs perfectly with the free Kool-Aid bar nearby. Between the two, nobody leaves thirsty or bored.
Grab a bottle for the drive and one for later. A vintage soda tastes even better when you crack it open at home and remember the trip.
A Dragon, An Airplane And A Warren Buffett Cutout
Look up once you’re inside, because the ceiling holds a real conversation piece. An experimental airplane hangs overhead, adding serious personality to the shopping trip.
Then there’s the paper-eating dragon. The owners mention it proudly, and it gives younger visitors something delightfully odd to find.
Cardboard cutouts add another layer of fun, including one of Warren Buffett. Omaha’s famous investor seems right at home surrounded by chocolate.
Upbeat music plays throughout the store as well. Combined with the bright displays, the space feels lively rather than like a plain warehouse.
The owners say they’ve worked hard to make the outlet a destination for all ages. These quirky touches show that effort in a way you can actually see.
It’s the sort of place that encourages snapping photos between aisles. A selfie with a cardboard billionaire beats a standard gas station picture any day.
Those details turn a simple shopping stop into an outing. You come for candy, but you leave talking about the airplane on the ceiling.
Bigger, Brighter And Recently Expanded
Returning shoppers often do a double take after the recent expansion. The store reopened much larger, with far more to explore than before.
The space now feels huge, yet it stays clean, neat and well organized. Wide aisles make it easy to browse without bumping carts every few steps.
Accessibility is a nice plus in a store this size. Products are easy to find, which helps older shoppers and families with strollers alike.
Cotton candy buckets, trail mix and nuts add to the bigger lineup. Good-quality popcorn also earns its place among the many snack options.
Some people easily spend an hour inside. That’s not a chore here, since every aisle seems to hold another surprise.
The friendly staff gets plenty of credit for the welcoming mood. Helpful, kind service makes a big store feel surprisingly personal.
If you visited years ago, the change alone is reason enough to return. The Baker’s Candies you remember has grown into something much more ambitious.
How To Plan Your Sweet Detour
Getting there couldn’t be much simpler for most eastern Nebraska drivers. The address is 831 S Baker St, Greenwood, NE 68366, right off US Highway 6.
That puts the shop roughly between Omaha and Lincoln. It’s an easy add-on for a Husker game day, a family visit or any cross-town errand.
The store is open every day of the week. Weekday and Saturday hours run through the business day, while Sunday offers shorter afternoon hours.
Hours can change, so a quick check before you leave is always wise. Holiday weeks especially may bring adjustments.
Pricing generally feels reasonable, and wholesale options help bigger buyers. Free samples and free Kool-Aid also keep the outing budget-friendly for families.
Sugar-free choices make the trip easier for diabetic shoppers. That thoughtful touch means more people in your group can join the fun.
Leave a little extra time in your schedule. Between tasting, scooping and spotting the airplane, a quick stop tends to stretch longer than planned.
Why This Shop Belongs On Your Nebraska List
Some stops feed you, and some stops entertain you. Baker’s Candies manages both while also showing off a whole lot of Nebraska pride.
The meltaways remain the heart of it all, just as they were with those first four flavors. Everything else, from soda bottles to sausages, builds a fun world around that chocolate.
It suits nearly everyone in the car. Kids get the taffy and dragon, grandparents get retro candy, and the snackers get jerky and popcorn.
The free Kool-Aid bar adds a cheerful nod to the state’s own invention. It’s a small detail that makes a candy run feel like a celebration of home.
No, it isn’t a century old, and nobody’s pulling taffy by hand on a hook. What it offers instead is a lively, family-built destination with real local roots.
For a drive between Omaha and Lincoln, that’s a pretty sweet reward. Plan for an hour, bring a cooler and leave room in the trunk.
You might go in for one bag of chocolates. Odds are good you’ll leave with a story and several bags.
