Our Story
Handcrafted Southern sweetness,
from our family to yours.
The Sweet Story Behind Savannah’s Candy Kitchen
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is built on more than recipes. It is built on family, cherished memories, and the belief that something made by hand can bring people together.
Our story begins with Stan Strickland, affectionately known as “The Candy Man”™. As a child, Stan watched his mother carefully choose the freshest ingredients and measure them by the cup of her hand. From her, he learned that making candy was about more than following a recipe. It was about patience, generosity, and creating something worth sharing.Those early moments inspired a lifelong passion for preserving the flavors and traditions of the Southern kitchen.
Stan
"The Candy Man"™
Stan dedicated his life to making, creating, and even inventing confections. He loved sweets of every kind, but what mattered most to him was the joy they brought to others.
Following the example set by his mother, Stan remained committed to quality products made with fresh ingredients and time-honored methods. His pralines, chocolates, brittles, cakes, pies, and other Southern favorites became a way to share the warmth of his family’s kitchen with generations of guests.
Whether he was pouring candy from a gleaming copper kettle or welcoming someone into the store, Stan made every visit feel personal. His passion, enthusiasm, and unmistakable warmth earned him the name that would follow him throughout his life: Stan “The Candy Man”™.
The Legacy is Built
Where the Savannah Story Began
In 1990, Stan brought the Strickland family’s cherished recipes to Savannah’s historic River Street, opening the store that would become the flagship home of Savannah’s Candy Kitchen.
Located along the eastern end of River Street, the shop became known for its vibrant red awning, its hanging copper kettle, and the irresistible aroma of candy being handcrafted inside. Guests could step through the doors and experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of a true Southern candy kitchen.Pralines were poured. Brittle was stretched. Candy was made in full view of visitors. What began as a place to share Stan’s family recipes soon became part of the River Street experience and a treasured stop for families returning to Savannah year after year.
Today, the Historic River Street store remains at the heart of our story. It is where Stan’s passion came to life and where the Savannah’s Candy Kitchen legacy continues to welcome new generations.
The Legacy Grows
Made the Way Stan Taught Us
Some things should never be rushed.
At Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, we remain devoted to the values Stan instilled in us: use quality ingredients, honor the recipe, take pride in the process, and always make something you would be proud to share with your own family.
Many of our beloved Southern sweets are still handcrafted in small batches using techniques passed down through generations. From creamy pralines filled with Georgia pecans to crisp brittle, rich chocolates, nostalgic candies, cakes, and pies, every creation carries a little piece of our family’s story.
It is a tradition you can see, smell, and taste.
The Legacy Lives On
The Legacy Lives Onthe Way Stan Taught Us
Following in the traditions of our founder, Stan “The Candy Man”™, we remain committed to the values he instilled in us.
Stan’s wife, Tonya, and their son, Rhett, along with the entire Savannah’s Candy Kitchen family, proudly carry on his beloved tradition of sweetness.
Together, they continue sharing the family recipes, welcoming guests into our stores, and preserving the unmistakable warmth that Stan brought to everything he made.
The business has grown, but the heart behind it remains the same: create exceptional Southern treats and make every person who receives them feel like part of the family.
Tonya & Rhett Strickland
Historic River Street
Savannah, Georgia
The flagship store and the heart of our story. Beneath its familiar red awning and hanging copper kettle, the Historic River Street location welcomes visitors into the world Stan envisioned. It is a place filled with handmade candy, warm hospitality, and the joyful nostalgia of an old-fashioned candy kitchen.
City Market
Savannah, Georgia
Just a short distance from River Street, our City Market location brings Savannah’s Candy Kitchen into one of the city’s most lively gathering places. Here, friends and families can slow down, watch the candy-making tradition come to life, and choose a sweet reminder of their time in Savannah.
National Harbor
Oxon Hill, Maryland
Our National Harbor store brought the flavors of Savannah beyond Georgia while keeping the spirit of the original candy kitchen close to heart. It is a place where visitors can discover Southern favorites, find a thoughtful gift, or enjoy a familiar taste that feels like it came straight from the family kitchen.
Broadway
Nashville, Tennessee
On Nashville’s Broadway, the energy of Music City meets the sweetness of Savannah. Surrounded by the sounds and excitement of downtown Nashville, our Broadway store offers guests a taste of handcrafted Southern hospitality in the heart of another city known for bringing people together.
Atlanta Airport (ATL), Concourse A
Atlanta, Georgia
Our Atlanta Airport location gives travelers the opportunity to take a little Southern sweetness wherever their journey leads. Whether it is a gift for someone waiting at home or one last treat before takeoff, the store makes it easy to carry the flavor and hospitality of Savannah along for the ride.
Come Make a Sweet Memory With Us
Visit Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in Savannah, National Harbor, Nashville, or Atlanta.
Stan the Candy Man’s Favorite Basket
This gorgeous basket is filled with favorites from the man who loved sweets of all kinds.
Throughout his lifetime, Stan dedicated himself to the art of making, creating, and even inventing confections.
Today, we honor Stan's memory with the “Stan the Candy Man's Favorite Basket.“ This thoughtfully curated selection is brimming with Stan's cherished candy favorites, offering a unique way to share Savannah's recent history and sweet traditions.
Basket includes:
- Two individually wrapped 1.3-ounce original pralines.
- Two individually wrapped 1.3-ounce milk chocolate gophers.
- Two individually wrapped divinity pieces.
- One individually wrapped 2-ounce pecan log roll.
- One 6-piece tray of milk chocolate sea salt caramels in a tray and sealed in box.
- One 4-ounce bag of glazed pecans.
Product details:
- Delivered in a keepsake red tray.
- Products are individually wrapped for maximum freshness.
What People Are Saying
What People Are Saying
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