This Idaho Candy Shop Stocks Hard-To-Find Old-Time Favorites Like Button Candy And Chunky Bars

A giant Jelly Belly mascot stands outside the door, and it’s practically waving you inside. Behind it waits a candy shop where Chunky bars and button candy still sit on the shelves.

Yes, those Chunky bars.

The selection runs from Atomic Fireballs to Zagnut bars. There are Zotz, candy gum cigarettes, Necco Wafers, and Razzles too.

I like how the shop treats forgotten candy like it never went out of style.

This Idaho sweet spot also spins fresh cotton candy and scoops gelato. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays on screens inside.

I can’t imagine a better setting for a sugar-fueled trip back in time.

So which childhood candy would you go hunting for first? My guess is you already have one in mind.

Maybe two or three.

A Boise Candy Shop That Never Forgot Your Childhood

Retro candy fans in Idaho have a happy address to remember. Cravin’s Candy Emporium – Boise sits in the Bown Crossing neighborhood of southeast Boise.

The shop focuses on classic candies, including the hard-to-find brands most stores quietly dropped years ago. Think Chunky bars, button candy, Bazooka Bubble Gum, and Necco Wafers on the same shelves.

That alone would earn it a spot on any sweet tooth’s map. Yet the store also carries modern treats, gelato, glass-bottled sodas, and fresh cotton candy.

It works like a candy time machine with a gelato counter attached. You can bring back a memory and try something brand new in one stop.

The shop calls its old-time stock an A-to-Z collection. That runs from Atomic Fireballs at one end to Zagnut bars at the other.

Somewhere in between, you’ll spot Razzles, Zotz, Pop Cookin’ kits, and candy gum cigarettes. Each one seems built to make an adult say, “I forgot these existed.”

Kids get just as excited, though for different reasons. To them, button candy on paper strips looks like a brand-new invention.

Everyone leaves holding a bag. Funny how that works.

Two Decades Of Sweet Business In Bown Crossing

Debbie and Joe Glordano bought the original business in 2006. They opened in January 2007 as a Powell’s Sweet Shoppe franchise.

In 2016, the couple rebranded and gave the store its current name. Cravin’s Candy Emporium was born, and the shelves only got fuller.

Their goal was a “Main Street” kind of business. That means a place built around conversation, friendly faces, and memories made over a candy bag.

Owners who still chat with customers about candy feel rare these days. Here, that neighborhood feel is part of the whole plan.

The store sits inside Bown Crossing, a walkable Boise village with local restaurants, spas, and a library branch. It’s the kind of spot families walk or bike to on a weekend.

That setting matters more than you’d think. A candy run easily turns into dinner nearby, a library stop, or a stroll afterward.

The family-run shop has also grown beyond this corner of town. There’s a Meridian location too, serving the wider Treasure Valley.

Still, Bown Crossing remains the original sweet anchor. Nearly two decades in, it keeps the Main Street dream going strong in Idaho.

Bulk Bins With More Than 500 Ways To Fill A Bag

Five hundred varieties. That’s the bulk candy count at Cravin’s, and yes, deciding takes a while.

The bins hold jelly beans, Sixlets, saltwater taffy, and a big spread of sweet and sour gummies. Jawbreakers come in several kinds, which feels like a bold choice for anyone’s dentist.

Bulk shopping is pure freedom. You build your own mix, one scoop of lemon gummies and two of cherry, no rules attached.

Licorice gets special attention here. The shop specializes in it, with more than 24 varieties from different countries.

Black, red, salty, sweet, soft, or twisted, the lineup goes well past the gas station basics. Licorice fans finally get a proper menu.

The store also stocks all-natural options, including jelly beans and licorice. Families with dietary needs can find nut-free and non-dairy choices too.

That’s a thoughtful touch for a candy store. Not every kid can grab anything off a shelf, and nobody likes sitting out the fun.

The owners say they welcome candy requests from shoppers. So if a favorite is missing, it never hurts to ask at the counter.

Twenty-Four Gelato Flavors Waiting Behind The Glass

Candy is only half the story at this Boise shop. The gelato case pulls in plenty of people who never planned on buying a single gummy.

Cravin’s serves authentic Italian gelato in a rotating lineup of 24 seasonal flavors. Options range from classic dark chocolate to playful unicorn bubblegum.

Past flavors have included pumpkin and coffee, limoncello, tiramisu, and stracciatella. The rotation keeps repeat visits interesting, since the case keeps changing.

Not into dairy? Fruity sorbettos are dairy-free, and they make a lighter pick on hot Idaho afternoons.

Gelato comes in a cup, a cone, or a pint to take home. That last option seems dangerous for anyone with a freezer and weak willpower.

Coffee lovers get a treat too. The signature affogato pours a shot of espresso over a scoop of gelato.

The menu also covers espresso, Americanos, mochas, and hot cocoa. Cooler months suddenly have a solid reason for a candy-shop stop.

Gelato in winter sounds brave. Then again, a mocha in one hand and a cone in the other sounds like balance.

Old-School Sodas Chilling In Glass Bottles

Moxie, anyone? The famously bold soda shares cooler space with more than 80 glass-bottled flavors at Cravin’s.

Many use original formulas or pure cane sugar. Old-school names include Nehi, Frostie, and Faygo, the kind your grandparents might recognize instantly.

Glass bottles just feel different. Popping a cap brings a little ceremony that a plastic bottle never quite manages.

Harry Potter fans can find butterscotch “Beer,” which is a soda despite the name. It pairs nicely with the shop’s wizard-themed corner.

Japanese Ramune sodas show up too, with their famous marble stoppers. Figuring out how to open one is half the entertainment.

Here’s a fun upgrade. The staff can turn any bottled soda into a creamy float.

Picking the flavor might be the hardest decision of the whole visit. Root beer is the classic call, but cream soda or orange could easily steal the show.

The soda wall makes a great gift stop as well. A mixed pack of strange flavors beats another gift card any day of the year.

Wands, Violet Crumbles, And Other Surprises Around Every Corner

A Sorting Hat in a candy shop? Somehow it fits perfectly at Cravin’s Candy Emporium – Boise.

The dedicated Harry Potter corner carries wands, chocolate creatures, and house scarves. Young wizards may need extra time here, so plan accordingly.

The international shelves turn shopping into a world tour. Violet Crumbles come from Australia, while Flakes and Aero bars arrive from Britain.

German Haribo gummies are here too. Travelers who miss a snack from abroad might find it waiting in Boise.

The gift selection reaches well beyond candy. Quirky presents, fun mints, mugs, and silly bandages fill the aisles.

Seasonal goodies appear as well, like specialty chocolate pumpkins around Halloween. The glass case holds chocolates and truffles that look almost too pretty to eat.

Almost. Let’s be honest.

Customizable Candy Kits make easy gifts for holidays, birthdays, or any random Tuesday. They solve the classic problem of shopping for someone who has everything.

The owners say their goal is a surprise around every corner. With Choward’s Violet mints tucked near crazy bandages, that promise holds up.

Willy Wonka Vibes For Kids And Grown-Ups Alike

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays on two screens inside the store. Few decorating choices set a mood quite so clearly.

Bright wrappers, crowded shelves, and a spinning cotton candy machine add to the whimsy. Fresh, handspun cotton candy gets made right in the shop.

Watching sugar turn into fluffy clouds never really gets old. Kids stare in wonder, and adults secretly do the same.

The shop suits nearly everyone. Grandparents can show off candy they grew up with, while kids discover it for the first time.

Families also book parties here. The “sweetest scavenger hunt” sends young explorers through the store with a colorful map.

Finishers earn a special prize, which makes birthdays easy for tired parents. Group activities work the same way.

Expect a lively, sometimes noisy room on busy days. That’s pretty much the soundtrack of any good candy store.

For Idaho families, it makes a cheerful treat for report cards or birthdays. For couples, it’s an easy dessert stop after dinner in Bown Crossing.

Either way, nobody leaves acting their age.

Plan Your Sugar Run Before You Leave Home

Finding the shop is the easy part. Head to 3064 S Bown Way, Boise, ID 83706, in the heart of Bown Crossing.

Look for the big Jelly Belly mascot outside the door. It’s hard to miss, and it makes a great photo buddy.

Cravin’s opens late morning every day of the week. Weekend evenings run a little later, but check before driving since hours can shift.

Prices vary widely by what lands in your bag. A single candy bar costs a few dollars, but bulk scooping adds up quickly.

Setting a budget before the bins come into view is smart. Telling kids “one scoop each” ahead of time works even better.

The shop also makes a fun after-dinner stop in the neighborhood. Gelato and a bottled soda close out an evening nicely.

So is it worth the trip across the Treasure Valley? For anyone chasing Chunky bars, button candy, or a forgotten favorite, I believe it absolutely is.

This Idaho candy shop keeps old memories within easy reach. Just don’t be surprised when one stop turns into a regular habit.