THE HISTORY OF O'SHEA'S CANDIES.....

3 Generations of Family Ownership- Since 1934

Our family business started in 1934 in the Walnut Grove area, and is still located at the same plant, where we manufacture our chocolates today. 

Thomas and Helen O'Shea began the business in 1934.  Tom once worked for Penn Traffic Kitchen, and one day he and his wife, Helen decided to start their own chocolate business.  When the opportunity was right, they bought property next to their home and built a plant. 

Helen O'Shea would take the trolley to downtown Johnstown and visit office buildings and hand out samples of their chocolates.  She then went back the next day and picked up orders for the homemade chocolates.  Soon the business began to grow.

In the 1960s, Bob O'Shea and his wife, Kay continued the family business as the second-generation owners.  They opened up a second store in the Geistown shopping Center. 

Bob & Kay purchased Penn Traffic Candy in 1977, and expanded the line of chocolates to include, the famous coconut cream penn pigs.  They also purchased Kuhn Coffee company and its salted nuts business.

Store number three opened, when Russ and Karen (O'Shea) Brubaker took over operations of the business.  They opened a store in Westmont, Pennsylvania where their line of chocolates is still growing. 

Russ & Karen started making their own cream and butter fudge in six different flavors.  They have expanded their business beyond the borders of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  They now ship their chocolates all over the United States.

Karen Brubaker believes that love, experience, and a desire to keep the O'Shea's name going will keep the business passing from generation to generation.

   Tom O'Shea                   Helen O'Shea Klaum           Bob & Kay O'Shea            Russ & Karen Brubaker