Unearth The Voyage
Craving a road-trip detour that feels like stepping into a storybook? Just south of the Twin Cities, a blazing-yellow barn beckons with aisles of sweetness, whimsy, and wonder. Inside, thousands of treats—from nostalgic favorites to far-flung imports—turn browsing into an adventure. Whether you’re hunting rare sodas or chasing childhood memories, this candy landmark promises a delicious escape worth the drive.
A Candy-Barn Landmark in the Minnesota Countryside
Located just off Highway 169 in Jordan, Minnesota, Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store is impossible to miss—its bright yellow barn gleams like a beacon, crowned by a playful golden dome. The structure reads part roadside attraction, part childhood dream, inviting travelers to pull over. Step inside and the scale surprises: towering shelves, ceiling art, and a carnival of color. The building’s barn silhouette nods to rural roots while signaling that the contents within are anything but ordinary.
This landmark is more than a pit stop; it’s a statement about joy along the open road. Families pile in for photos under the dome and return each season to see what’s new. For many, the yellow barn has become a cherished ritual.
A Buffet of Sweetness from Around the World
Inside, the sheer variety astonishes. One aisle brims with nostalgic American classics; another reveals imports you rarely find outside specialty shops—British chocolate bars, Japanese gummies, Scandinavian licorice. Seasonal displays rotate with holidays, creating an endless sense of discovery. A dedicated section spotlights oddities and adventurous bites, including chocolate-covered crickets that dare the curious.
Beyond candy, the layout is theatrical: bright murals, overhead installations, and color-drenched displays that invite photos at every turn. Staff knowledge helps you navigate unusual flavors or track down favorites from childhood. Whether you’re sampling global hits or restocking classics, the store’s breadth transforms shopping into exploration. Each shelf delivers a new passport stamp for your palate, proving that sweetness speaks a universal language.
The Colossal Craft Soda Wall
One of the store’s most jaw-dropping features is its massive craft soda collection, a rainbow wall of bottles with flavors ranging from butterbeer to bacon. Hundreds of varieties compete for attention: artisanal root beers, spicy ginger ales, fruity sippers from abroad, and nostalgic colas that echo bygone brands. It’s a tasting tour in glass.
Mix-and-match carriers let you curate a personal six-pack adventure. Staff can point to best-sellers or seasonal rarities, while signage highlights daring choices for the bold. The visual delight of shimmering glass and playful labels makes this display feel like an exhibit. Whether you collect unusual sodas or simply crave a cold root beer for the road, the soda wall alone merits a special stop.
Nostalgia Lane: Retro American Favorites
For many visitors, the sweetest discovery is memory itself. Rows of retro classics—candy cigarettes, wax bottles, Bit-O-Honey, Necco Wafers, Charleston Chews—bring back childhood trips to corner stores. The packaging, often faithfully retro, delivers a rush of color and sentiment that modern wrappers rarely match. You’ll hear exclamations of “I remember these!” around every corner.
These aisles spark intergenerational conversations as parents introduce kids to long-loved favorites. Some classics are available in multiple sizes, from single servings to shareable boxes perfect for road trips. If you’ve been hunting for a hard-to-find treat from decades past, this is where nostalgia meets convenience. It’s an edible time machine that turns browsing into storytelling, one crinkly wrapper at a time.
Whimsy Above: Ceilings, Murals, and Photo Ops
Look up: the décor is part of the show. The store’s whimsical ceilings and playful murals transform ordinary shopping into an immersive art walk. Candy-colored scenes and themed vignettes create spontaneous photo ops: stand beneath a swirl of illustrated taffy or pose beside oversized confections. The energy is buoyant, turning even quick visits into a visual adventure.
These installations aren’t just decoration—they cue the store’s personality: friendly, a bit quirky, and unabashedly joyful. Kids chase details with pointing fingers while adults snap keepsake shots. You’ll find corners designed to surprise, with new set pieces appearing seasonally. It’s a reminder that this experience is curated for delight, where ceiling art earns as many smiles as the sweets below.
Seasonality and the Thrill of Timing
The store typically operates from mid-May through November, then closes for winter—a rhythm that adds urgency to every visit. Early season trips feel like a grand reopening, with fresh stock and new displays. Autumn brings cozy flavors, apple-themed treats, and festive decor before the doors lock till spring. The cycle keeps loyal fans checking calendars and planning pilgrimages.
Seasonality also reflects the region’s agricultural heartbeat, nodding to the business’s roots in Jim’s Apple Farm. When it’s open, the place hums; when it’s closed, anticipation builds. That pattern transforms candy shopping into a seasonal tradition, a celebration of the sunny months that begs a return visit.
Family Heritage and Local Identity
Behind the spectacle is a family story. Connected to Jim’s Apple Farm, the candy store bridges rural heritage with modern-day road-trip culture. Its growth reflects a nimble response to what travelers crave: discovery, delight, and a touch of the unexpected. Even as shelves expand, the operation retains a down-to-earth spirit that feels unmistakably Minnesotan.
Locals consider it a point of pride, and returning customers become part of its evolving tale. The barn silhouette honors agricultural roots, while the candy universe inside showcases entrepreneurial imagination. In a marketplace dominated by chains, this independent destination stands out by being personal, playful, and rooted. That identity keeps the community invested—and visitors curious.
Planning Your Visit: Address, Hours, and Tips
Set your GPS to 20430 Johnson Memorial Drive, Jordan, MN 55352, and watch for the big yellow barn along Highway 169. Operating seasonally, the store’s hours shift through the warm months; check current times before you go. Weekends buzz with activity, so arrive early or try weekday mornings for easier browsing.
Plan at least an hour—more if you’re sampling sodas, photographing murals, or comparing candies from abroad. Consider pairing your visit with a scenic country drive or nearby attractions south of the Twin Cities. With a little planning, you’ll maximize the fun and avoid crowds.
Cash-Only Quirk and Checkout Strategy
Many visitors note the store’s cash-only policy or limited card options, so prepare accordingly. Bring enough cash to cover impulse finds—six-pack sodas, novelty items, gifts, and extra treats you’ll inevitably discover. If you’re shopping with family, consider dividing and conquering: one person queues while others grab last-minute favorites. Clear signage helps, but the line can swell on weekends.
To speed checkout, group similar items and keep fragile sodas upright in carriers. Bags and boxes are available, and staff are efficient even when the pace picks up. Come ready, and the final step stays as sweet as the browsing.
Road-Trip Pairings and Nearby Detours
Because it’s south of the Twin Cities, the candy barn makes an easy anchor for a day of exploring. Pair the stop with a leisurely countryside drive, a farm stand visit, or a picnic at a nearby park. Small-town main streets offer coffee, antiques, and local treats, rounding out the sweet theme. Autumn drives, especially, make the yellow barn pop against russet fields.
Map out a loop to avoid backtracking: arrive mid-morning, snack, explore, then continue to another rural curiosity. The combination keeps kids engaged and gives adults a satisfying sense of discovery. It’s a reminder that memorable trips often happen just off the interstate.
Beyond Candy: Gifts, Puzzles, and Curios
Candy may headline, but the supporting cast shines: jigsaw puzzles stacked ceiling-high, novelty toys, kitchen curios, and giftable oddities. It’s the kind of place where a quick candy run turns into holiday shopping. Puzzles range from beginner to expert-level beasts, making perfect rainy-day souvenirs. You’ll spot regional nods and humorous trinkets that fit right into a care package.
This variety helps every visitor find a treasure—something sweet, something clever, or both. The effect is bazaar-like, but curated with surprise and delight in mind. Even practical items feel playful in this setting, extending the joy beyond the last bite.
Why It’s More Than Just a Sweet Stop
Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store fuses nostalgia, novelty, and local enterprise into a singular experience. The architecture is quirky, the inventory exuberant, and the mood contagious. In a region celebrated for lakes and urban arts, this yellow barn adds a new shade of memory: small-town welcome meets big-fun spectacle. You don’t just buy treats—you participate in a tradition.
Each visit becomes a story worth retelling, with flavors as characters and aisles as chapters. That magic turns a roadside shop into a destination, and a quick stop into a highlight. It proves that wonder can be found where you least expect it—just follow the yellow barn.
First-Timer’s Strategy: Explore Like a Pro
Enter with a game plan: start at the soda wall to secure fragile bottles, then circle through international candies before finishing with bulky items and gifts. Keep a running photo list of must-tries so you don’t forget favorites amid the spectacle. If you’re budget-conscious, set a cash limit and prioritize rare finds over common staples you can buy anywhere.
Beat crowd crunch by arriving at opening or late afternoon on weekdays. Snap photos as you go—displays rotate seasonally and you’ll want memories. Finally, pack your trunk with a cooler for chocolate on hot days. With a simple strategy, your first visit feels like a confident treasure hunt.
