Tucked into Altoona, Pennsylvania, Boyer Candy Company turns sweet nostalgia into something you can hold, unwrap, and happily demolish in the car. The 4.5-star factory outlet at 821 17th St is compact but loaded with Mallo Cups, Clark Bars, Clarkcups, and the fan favorite Jimmie Stix, plus videos that show the chocolate magic happening behind the scenes.
Hours are friendly for road trippers, opening at 10 AM most days and 11 AM on Sundays, and the staff will gladly guide you toward fresh batches, bundle deals, and those legendary 5-pound boxes of irregulars.
1. The Mallo Cup Legend
Step inside Boyer Candy Company and the first thing you reach for is a Mallo Cup.
That toasted coconut ring hugging whipped marshmallow, all cinched by creamy milk chocolate, tastes exactly like childhood road trips.
You can watch factory videos in the outlet and then unwrap a fresh pack to match the scenes you just saw.
Locals swear nothing beats grabbing a 5 pound box of irregulars, because a squiggle never ruined a great bite.
Reviewers rave about friendly staff and free sample bags, which makes stocking up feel like a tiny celebration.
Pick dark chocolate if you want a richer edge, or keep it classic and freeze a stash so the coconut stays snappy.
Do not skip the Play Money inside the wrappers.
Save coupons and you can trade them for merch, a tradition that keeps fans collecting year after year.
It is quirky, nostalgic, and uniquely Boyer, just like that first marshmallowy snap.
2. A Peek Behind The Chocolate Line
Even when the production floor is off limits, the outlet plays looping factory footage that scratches every curiosity.
You see shiny kettles, enrobers, and that hypnotic river of chocolate coating cups and bars.
Watching the swirl over coconut and peanut butter turns waiting in line into part of the treat.
Staff are happy to talk about temperature curves and why coconut has toasting sweet spots.
Ask about the Clark Bar revival and you will hear how Boyer stepped in when Pittsburgh nostalgia needed a home.
Little insights like that make the candy taste even more alive.
If you are visiting with kids, turn it into a mini factory class.
Count wrappers, compare textures, and let them describe the difference between milk and dark.
Then pick a take home experiment, like freezing Mallo Cups overnight or warming a Clark Cup in your pocket, and vote the champion on the drive home.
3. The Jimmie Stix Obsession
Jimmie Stix are the sleeper hit you do not expect until that first salty crunch.
Imagine pretzel rods coated in peanut butter, then wrapped in chocolate so the snap meets a creamy hug.
Reviewers call them a new favorite, and I believe you will, too.
They are perfect road snacks because the rods are tidy, shareable, and satisfying in small bites.
Grab a bundle, then balance with a Mallo Cup for the ultimate sweet and salty duet.
If you like Reese’s, several locals swear Boyer’s peanut butter cups and Clarkcups beat them on flavor.
Here is a pro tip.
Stash a bag in the freezer, then let one sit at room temperature for two minutes before crunch time.
The peanut butter creams just enough while the pretzel stays decisive.
Try the twists, too, if rods are sold out, and thank the friendly team for steering you toward fresh batches today.
4. Clark Bar And Clarkcups Comeback
The Clark Bar comeback lives right here, and the legacy tastes as bold as you remember.
Bite through that crisp, flaky peanut butter core and the chocolate shell that snaps like a high five.
Pittsburgh roots meet Altoona craftsmanship, making each bar feel like edible Pennsylvania history.
Fans pile them into gift boxes with Mallo Cups for family who grew up on neighborhood corner stores.
You can taste why the style never really left hearts.
Better yet, grab Clarkcups if you want a cup format that softens the texture without losing the signature roasted flavor.
Ask the staff about batch timing if freshness matters to you.
They know when deliveries hit the shelves, and they will steer you right.
If you are sending a care package, tuck in a note about the bar’s rescue and include the website link so your recipient can read the story while snacking.
On top.
5. Outlet Irregulars: Five Pounds Of Joy
The factory outlet at 821 17th St is small, bright, and packed with temptation.
Prices are friendly, and the real score is the 5 pound box of assorted irregulars.
Imperfect shapes, perfect flavor, and nothing beats the thrill of mystery pulls when you open the lid back in the car.
Multiple reviewers love snagging seconds, freezing them, and enjoying a few at a time.
One word of caution from a veteran shopper.
The defect boxes are not individually wrapped, so plan to share, portion into bags, or bring containers along for easier snacking between stops.
Expect smiles behind the counter and a quick chat about what’s freshest or which bundle qualifies for a discount today.
Ask about senior Tuesdays if that fits your calendar.
The store opens at 10 AM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM Sunday, so you can time a visit to pair with lunch nearby.
In Altoona.
6. Play Money Rewards, Then And Now
Remember counting Play Money slips from childhood candy wrappers.
Boyer still runs that whimsical program, and it is pure dopamine for collectors.
Save the coupons, mail them in, and earn branded shirts, mugs, or other goodies that extend the sugar high long after the last bite disappears.
One reviewer spent years saving for shirts and felt disappointed with sizing, so learn from that story.
Check measurements online or call the friendly outlet team before redeeming.
The staff are responsive, and a quick chat helps make sure your reward matches expectations without guesswork or returns.
Parents, turn this into a fun math project.
Set a goal, track wrappers on a fridge chart, and celebrate milestones with a store visit.
You will build patience while supporting a Pennsylvania original.
The bonus is obvious.
Every tally mark comes with a bite of chocolate, which might be the greatest study aid ever invented today.
7. Plan Your Visit: Hours, Access, And Tips
Set your GPS to 821 17th St, Altoona, PA 16601, then aim to arrive right at open to beat the candy rush.
Hours run 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 4 PM Sunday.
If you need details, call +1 814-944-9401 or check boyercandies.com before driving.
Parking is easy, and the shop’s compact layout means you can be in and out fast on a road trip.
Friendly staff keep lines moving while answering questions about ingredients, allergies, and gifting.
The store holds a 4.5 star rating across hundreds of reviews, which matches the smiles you will see inside.
Make it a sweet break between Horseshoe Curve sightseeing and lunch downtown.
If you are short on time, buy a mixed bag and a box of irregulars, then refuel in the car.
If you have longer, browse merch, watch the looping videos, and let the nostalgia soak in slowly.
8. Merch, Gift Baskets, And Photo Worthy Swag
Beyond candy, you will find mugs, tees, hoodies, and seasonal baskets that make gifting effortless.
The red, yellow, and brown branding pops in photos, so your care packages look cheerful before anyone even opens a wrapper.
Grab a postcard and jot a note while the memory is still warm.
If you play collector, ask which designs rotate seasonally.
Staff can show clearance racks, new arrivals, and bundles that pair shirts with candy discounts.
Sizes can vary by batch, so try on or confirm measurements to avoid surprises after a long drive home.
Gift strategy tip.
Choose a hero candy for each recipient, then add a contrasting texture.
Mallo Cups with pretzels, Clarkcups with caramel, or Jimmie Stix with dark chocolate bars turn a box into an experience.
Finish with a printed map pin for 40.5105094, -78.4041084 so your friends know exactly where sweetness came from.
Tape it inside the lid.
9. Your First Visit Game Plan
Here is a simple plan to make your first visit delicious and efficient.
Park, snap a photo outside the sign, and walk in with a short list.
Start with Mallo Cups, add Jimmie Stix, then choose either Clark Bar or Clarkcups for a peanut butter finale.
Next, hunt the irregulars table and pick a five pound box if you have freezer space.
Ask the clerk about fresh batches today and any bundle deals.
Check out, stash extras in a cooler, and dial a friend so you can relive the nostalgia in real time together.
Before leaving, snap the hours sign for your calendar and save the phone number in contacts.
If anything sells out, order online when you get home and keep the momentum rolling.
On the way out of Altoona, open a Mallo Cup for the road and let that coconut glow follow you for miles.
All the way home.