The Taffy Shop in Estes Park, a cherished family-owned establishment, has garnered national acclaim by securing the top spot on USA Today’s prestigious list of the country’s best candy stores. Since achieving this accolade, business at the shop has flourished significantly.
Mark Igel, owner of the Taffy Shop, expressed his excitement in an interview with the Denver Post, stating, “Another business owner told me this morning that this is the most exciting thing that’s happened in Estes Park for years. I think that the people in the community are taking a great amount of pride in this because the shop is a piece of the history of this town.”
Established in 1935 by the Slack family, the Taffy Shop has maintained its reputation for crafting gourmet salt water taffy by hand. In 2014, the shop transitioned to the ownership of the Igels when Lavona Slack retired, according to the store’s website. Throughout its 89-year history, the shop has adhered faithfully to its original taffy recipe, securely stored in a safe deposit box.
Mark Igel reflected on the shop’s enduring success, remarking, “That’s what blows me away is that Mr. Slack, who founded the store, came up with a recipe and a way of doing business that was keeping it simple. And I think that is a testament to what it feels like we’re missing in the world today: something simple, affordable and enjoyable.”
The Taffy Shop’s recognition as the top candy store in the U.S. came after being nominated for the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award by a USA Today expert and subsequently chosen as a finalist through editorial review. Following a public voting process, the shop emerged victorious from an initial field of 20 nominees.
“We started at No. 13 and we watched over a few days as we kept moving up,” Igel recounted to The Post. “We were in the second position the day they turned off the leaderboard.”
Upon the release of the final results, with the Taffy Shop claiming the number one spot, Igel described the moment as overwhelming. “It was amazing,” he added, recalling the flood of congratulatory messages he received.
To celebrate this milestone, Igel has extended an invitation to all patrons and former employees of the shop to join in a group photo in front of the Taffy Shop on June 29 at 5 p.m.
“People have said, ‘Why are you so crazy about this store? It’s just taffy,’” Igel responded. “That’s so not true. There’s so much more to this store. It’s not just a piece of candy people walk out with.”
The Taffy Shop’s triumph serves as a testament to its enduring legacy and the community’s pride in its longstanding contribution to Estes Park.
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