History

A Delicious Legacy Begins

O’Shea’s Candies began in 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression, when Tom & Helen O’Shea, a hardworking Irish-American with a passion for sweets, turned a family recipe into a local treasure. Tom worked for Penn Traffic Kitchen, and one day, he and his wife, Helen, decided to start their own chocolate business, purchasing the property next to their home and built a small chocolate factory and penny candy store. The warmth of the bubbling caramel and the scent of melted chocolate became tied to their fondest family memories.

Setting up shop in a small storefront in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Tom began making batches of hand-pulled taffy, rich buttercreams, and caramels using copper kettles and wooden paddles. He worked tirelessly, to perfect his recipes and offer something comforting to a community struggling through hard times. His philosophy was simple: use the finest ingredients, make everything by hand, and treat every customer like family.

The locals were quick to embrace O’Shea’s Candies. Word of mouth spread, and soon people from neighboring towns were visiting to get a taste of Peanut Butter Cups, Cordial Cherries, Peanut Butter Meltaway, sea salt caramels and signature chocolate truffles.

It was a local tradition for many of the school kids to save up their pennies and stop in for a chocolate treat. Helen O’Shea would take the trolley to downtown Johnstown to 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.

Soldier Care Packages and Steady Business Growth

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, O’Shea’s Candies grew steadily. During the war years, O’Shea’s sent care packages to soldiers overseas—boxes of chocolates that reminded them of home.

The Second Generation Takes the Helm

In the 1960s, Tom & Helen’s son Bob, and his wife Kay, joined the business. Together they expanded the product line and opened a second location at Geistown plaza as second-generation owners.

Bob and 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.

Family-Driven Expansion Continues

Store number three opened in 1982 when Russ and Karen (O’Shea) Brubaker took over the business’s operations. Here, they served the surrounding communities and this bedroom community with a wide assortment of chocolates. They were successful in adding a fundraising program, full retail store, gifting solutions, & seasonal wholesale programs.

The Sweet Smell of Success in the Laurel Highlands

Karen’s son Matt Brubaker and his wife Kristy joined the family business in 2015. They opened up a new store in charming Ligonier, PA in the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands Mountains. In addition, they added a Life Is Good neighborhood branded store. Both of these stores are located directly on the Diamond of Ligonier. They also expanded into offering old-fashioned ice cream.

Looking Forward as Our Centennial Approaches

As the business passed through generations, the O’Shea family stayed true to Tom’s original values. Even as technology and tastes changed, the company remained committed to handmade, small-batch confections using traditional methods. Grandchildren of the original customers have brought their own children in to share in the sweet traditions of their youth.

Today, O’Shea’s Candies stands as a testament to resilience, craftsmanship, and community spirit. Though it has grown from that tiny shop in 1934 into a regional favorite with multiple locations and online ordering, the heart of the company remains the same.

With each bite of a chocolate-dipped peanut butter meltaway or a piece of our old-fashioned Pennsylvania Cordial Cherries, customers taste a legacy that started with one couple’s dream, a copper kettle, marble slab, and a whole lot of heart.

Our family is passionate about chocolate – our quality and old-fashioned techniques are key to our success. We look forward to celebrating our centennial anniversary with you!