Our Visit to The Albanese Candy Factory: A Sweet Gem in Indiana

If you’ve ever watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, then, like me, you’ve probably always wanted to visit a candy factory like the one in the movie. Now, don’t get carried away. The Albanese Candy Factory isn’t like the Willy Wonka movie, but our visit was fun and full of savory sweets. The Albanese Candy Factory is located in Merriville, Indiana, and it might be your golden ticket to having your own Willy Wonka experience. From chocolate-covered everything to the tastiest pretzels I’ve ever tried, our factory visit turned out to be just what we hoped it would be.

The Sweet Magic Inside the Candy Store

The building that houses the candy factory is quite large. The air smelled sweet as we walked to the front of the store. This is where the tour begins. Right in front of the factory is the Albanese store, decorated with colorful Albanese gummy bears. The store reminds me of the candy store fronts inside of Walt Disney World. My daughter’s anticipation grew even more as we entered the store, excited about the treats she was about to taste. I was also excited and looking forward to some delicious chocolate.

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The store had every type of gummy, bubblegum, pretzel, and lollipop. There were so many varieties of chocolate-covered nuts and candies. The best part about it all was the unlimited number of free samples. This warmed my foodie feels all the way up! I think I tried at least 10 different chocolate-covered pretzels, gummies, and nuts combined.

Between the kids, my husband, and me, we purchased:

  • 12 Flavor Gummy Bears
  • Chocolate Covered Pecans ( just as delicious as Turtles)
  • Lemonade Gummies
  • Chocolate Covered Pretzels
  • Nerds
  • Sour Candies

And lastly, a funny favorite from my husband and my childhood was the bubble gum cigarettes. Our kids didn’t understand these, but thought they were pretty cool. Our childhood was cool! All of the nostalgia candy was fun to see and try again.

Touring the Albanese Candy Factory

The candy store factory is open every day, but the times do vary. We visited on a Sunday and it was quite busy, so I’m not sure about what day or time is better. It’s free to enter, and there are free samples galore, but once you taste your favorite candy, you’ll want to buy some, so come prepared to spend. We gave our daughter a $15 budget and she got a lot of things to satisfy her sweet cravings. The factory is family-friendly and a quick walkthrough for everyone.

The Albanese Candy Factory in Indiana is located 1.5 hours from Chicago, with casual restaurants, a shopping center, and a family-friendly water park nearby, it is a perfect stop for a day of family fun!

Have you been to the Albanese Candy Factory? If so, what’s your favorite candy from there? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or share your favorite candy factory! Thanks for reading!