Unearth The Voyage
There is a candy shop on the Seaside Heights boardwalk that has been pulling people back, year after year, for more than six decades. Kids who grew up grabbing saltwater taffy here are now bringing their own children, and sometimes their grandchildren, to do the same thing.
The shop has survived hurricanes, fires, and boardwalk renovations, and it is still standing, still making treats by hand, and still earning five-star reviews from loyal fans across New Jersey and beyond. This article takes a close look at what makes Berkeley Sweet Shop so special, from its handmade fudge and classic taffy to its behind-the-glass chocolate-making station and its surprisingly competitive prices.
If you have ever had a soft spot for old-school candy shops, this one deserves a spot on your list.
Where You Can Find Berkeley Sweet Shop
Right in the heart of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Berkeley Sweet Shop sits at 1205 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751. The shop is easy to find because the boardwalk itself is the main strip running along the Jersey Shore, and this candy store has been a fixture there long enough that locals treat it like a landmark.
Seaside Heights is in Ocean County, New Jersey, and it draws big summer crowds every year. The boardwalk stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, lined with rides, food stands, and shops, and Berkeley Sweet Shop holds its own among all of them.
The shop has gone through a lot of changes over the years, including a move from its original Seaside Park location after Hurricane Sandy and a subsequent fire forced the owners to start fresh. That kind of resilience says a lot about how much this place means to the community.
A History That Spans More Than Six Decades
Berkeley Sweet Shop has been part of the Jersey Shore candy scene for over 60 years, which puts it in a rare category of businesses that have genuinely stood the test of time. Most boardwalk shops come and go with the seasons, but this one has kept coming back, earning new fans while holding onto the old ones.
The shop originally operated out of Seaside Park before Hurricane Sandy and a fire changed everything. Rather than closing for good, the owners made the move to Seaside Heights and rebuilt.
That decision turned out to be the right one.
Long-time visitors still talk about going there as kids and finding the same quality waiting for them decades later. That kind of consistency is not something you can fake, and it is exactly why the shop has maintained such a strong reputation along the entire Ocean County coastline.
Sixty-plus years in, and the story is still going strong.
Saltwater Taffy That Wins Taste Tests
One boardwalk visitor actually walked the entire length of Seaside Heights, buying saltwater taffy from every shop along the way and comparing the same flavors side by side. Berkeley Sweet Shop came out on top, which matched exactly what the owner had predicted when told about the experiment.
The taffy here is made with quality ingredients, and regulars say you can tell the difference right away. You can hand-pick individual flavors and fill a bucket yourself, which makes the whole experience feel more personal and fun than grabbing a pre-packed bag.
New Jersey saltwater taffy has a long tradition along the Shore, and Berkeley’s version fits right into that legacy while still managing to stand apart from the competition. Whether you load up on fruit flavors, classic vanilla, or something more adventurous, the taffy holds up well and travels nicely, making it a go-to gift for friends who could not make the trip.
Handmade Fudge in Multiple Flavors
The fudge at Berkeley Sweet Shop is one of the most talked-about items in the whole store. Visitors who have tried it across multiple trips consistently rank it as the best fudge on the boardwalk, and some have sampled six or more flavors in a single visit just to be thorough about it.
The Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Fudge has developed its own fan base over the years. It gets mentioned by name in reviews from people who drove long distances just to pick some up.
That level of loyalty is not built on average fudge.
Everything is made on site, which means the ingredients are fresh and the flavors are consistent. The shop does not rely on outside suppliers for its signature treats, and that shows in the final product.
A thick slab of house-made fudge wrapped up to go is one of the easiest ways to bring a piece of the Jersey Shore home with you.
Chocolate Making You Can Watch Through the Glass
One of the coolest features inside Berkeley Sweet Shop is a dedicated area where the chocolate is made right in front of you. A glass partition lets you watch the process without getting in the way, and it turns a candy purchase into something closer to a mini experience.
Watching chocolate get prepared from scratch gives you a real appreciation for how much work goes into each piece. It is also a great way to keep kids entertained while adults browse the rest of the shop, which is a bonus for any family visiting the boardwalk.
This kind of transparency about the production process is part of what sets Berkeley Sweet Shop apart from stores that simply stock pre-made goods. When you can see the chocolate being worked, it reinforces the fact that what you are buying was made with care and not just pulled off a warehouse shelf.
That visibility builds trust, and trust keeps customers coming back every summer.
Chocolate Coconut Clusters Worth the Drive
The chocolate coconut clusters at Berkeley Sweet Shop have earned a reputation that goes well beyond Seaside Heights. At least one person’s coworker reportedly makes a round trip of over two hours just to pick them up, which is the kind of endorsement that no marketing budget can buy.
The clusters are made in-house, and the quality of the chocolate coating comes through clearly. The coconut inside holds its texture rather than turning soft or chewy in a way that feels off, and the balance between the two main ingredients is consistent from batch to batch.
For anyone who enjoys chocolate-covered treats, these clusters are an easy recommendation. They pack well, hold up during a car ride home, and make a solid gift for someone who did not make the trip.
If the coconut clusters are the reason someone drives two hours each way without complaint, they are probably worth at least a short detour on your next Shore visit.
Parlays, Peanut Brittle, and Other House Specialties
Beyond the fudge and taffy, Berkeley Sweet Shop carries a range of house-made specialties that have developed their own loyal followings. Parlays are one of the more unique items on the menu, and they have been ordered online as birthday gifts by people who grew up eating them and wanted to share that experience with family members across the country.
Peanut brittle is another standout. It is the kind of old-fashioned candy that you do not see everywhere anymore, and the version made here has kept fans returning for years.
Milk chocolate covered pretzels round out the salty-sweet category and have been called out as a personal favorite by more than one long-time customer.
The shop also carries marzipan and chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, which add a bit of variety for people who want something different from the usual boardwalk fare. With this much variety all made on site, there is genuinely something for every type of candy person.
Sugar-Free Options That Actually Taste Good
Not everyone walking the boardwalk is looking for a full sugar hit, and Berkeley Sweet Shop has that covered too. The shop carries sugar-free taffy that has surprised more than a few customers who expected it to taste like a compromise.
One visitor noted that it definitely does not taste sugar-free, which is about the highest compliment that category of candy can receive.
Having a solid sugar-free option makes the shop more inclusive for people managing their sugar intake, whether for health reasons or personal preference. It also means that a group of friends or family members with different dietary needs can all find something worth buying at the same stop.
The fact that the sugar-free taffy holds up in terms of flavor and texture shows the same attention to quality that runs through the rest of the shop’s offerings. It is not an afterthought tucked into a corner.
At Berkeley Sweet Shop, even the alternatives are done right, which keeps the overall standard high across the board.
Van Holten Taffy and Hard-to-Find Treats
One of the more niche draws at Berkeley Sweet Shop is its stock of Van Holten Taffy, a brand that has a passionate following but is genuinely hard to track down in most stores. Fans of this particular taffy know how frustrating it can be to search for it, which makes finding it at Berkeley’s feel like a small victory.
Carrying specialty items like this shows that the shop pays attention to what candy enthusiasts actually want, not just what moves the most units. That kind of curation is part of what gives Berkeley Sweet Shop a slightly different character from generic boardwalk candy vendors.
For visitors who know their taffy brands, spotting Van Holten on the shelf is reason enough to stop in. For visitors who do not know it yet, the staff are friendly enough to point you in the right direction.
Either way, the shop has a habit of introducing people to new favorites, which is one of the best things a candy store can do.
A Shop Built on Nostalgia and Repeat Visits
There is a specific kind of loyalty that forms around places people visited as children. Berkeley Sweet Shop has built that loyalty across multiple generations, with customers who grew up going there now bringing their own kids and grandkids to experience the same thing.
That cycle of return visits is one of the strongest signs a business can have that it is doing something right.
The shop reopened after its post-Sandy, post-fire move to Seaside Heights, and long-time fans were genuinely relieved to see it come back. Reviews from that period are full of people saying how happy they were that Berkeley’s had returned to the boardwalk, which tells you how much the place meant to them.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing, but it only holds up when the product still delivers. Berkeley Sweet Shop has managed to keep the quality consistent enough that the memories people carry from childhood actually match what they find when they come back as adults.
That is a hard thing to pull off, and the shop does it reliably.
Ordering Online and Shipping Nationwide
Not everyone can make it to the Jersey Shore every time a craving hits, and Berkeley Sweet Shop has a solution for that. The shop ships its treats nationwide through its website at berkeleycandy.com, which means the fudge, taffy, and other house-made goodies can reach customers who live far from the boardwalk.
The online store has been a lifeline for people who grew up in New Jersey and moved away, as well as for those who want to send a taste of the Shore to friends and family in other states. One customer ordered parlays to be shipped to Colorado as part of an Easter package, and the shop fulfilled the order without a problem.
The shipping option also means that if the physical store happens to be closed during a boardwalk renovation or off-season maintenance, you are not completely out of luck. The owner has been upfront about directing customers to the website when the location is temporarily unavailable, which shows a genuine effort to keep people connected to the shop no matter the circumstances.
