Stock & Barrel | Summer 2023

From crispy chips and soft pretzels to a world tour of candy, we’re snacking our way through The Arch City with a wide variety of out of this world treats. And you’re invited. This cover section features guides to Ohio-made salty snacks, some of the top snack-sized menu items from local eateries, a closer look at one sweet and salty treat that the city is going nuts for, and a globetrotting tour of tastes featuring the massive international offerings of Gahanna-based candy company. Let’s unwrap!

Getting Salty

From potato chips to pretzels, nuts and more, here’s your guide to salty and savory snacking in Columbus

By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Leonardo Carrizo / Story Design by Tori Smith

The sweet stuff is great from time to time, but when it comes down to it, but many of us pefer to reach for salty snacks the majority of the time.

That’s why we’re kicking off our cover section with a deep-dive into some of the Buckeye State’s best salty snacks, and where to find them.

Potato Chips

The top of the totem pole in the snack world is, for many, the potato chip. Lucky for us that here in Ohio, we have more than a few tried and true options to dig into.

The Cincinnati-based Grippo’s offers a signature BBQ flavor with enough seasoning powder to take down an elephant (in the best way), while Ballerich’s in Tiffin offers just about the coolest, vintage-leaning bag you’ll find, housing their “marcelled” chips (a term the brand invented to described the ridges in their chips, inspired by the starkly wavy hairstyle of the same name). Both brands are over 100 years old, and the prolific Conn’s isn’t too far off.

And don’t count out the Dayton favorite, Mikesell’s, either. While the brand announced its closure following 110 years in early 2023, the aforementioned Conn’s bought the Mikesell’s naming rights and began producing them again a short time later.”

Popcorn

One of the snack world's most versatile and underrated players is popcorn. Equally delicious whether it’s prepared with salt and butter, cumin and saffron, or drenched in a sugary shell, popcorn is more of a triple threat than Ray Allen in his prime.

There’s plenty of it to go around in Columbus, but the long-standing established can’t-miss option. While they cater to all the classic flavors like caramel and cheddar, their Columbus Mix (a combination of Vanilla Butternut and White Cheddar that riffs off the ever-popular Chicago Mix) is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. And if you’re feeling salty (get it?) new savory options like Dill Pickle, or spicy variants including their Habanero Mango offer fun ways to mix things up.

For those in the Gahanna area, Market Popcorn & Windy City Eats another fantastic option.

Nuts

For decades, The Peanut Shoppe’s ionic neon signage has served as a beacon for downtown diners looking for a salty (or sweet) fix. Self-described as Downtown’s oldest retail business, part of The Peanut Shoppe is, well, the experience. First opened in 1936, the store stays true to its roots, offering visitors an olde-timey candy and nuts store that they pick out by the pound.

Similarly, Lisa Robitaille's American Nut Co. has been a fixture in the North Market Downtown for years. While they do offer sweet options, one of their signature blends, the Rosemary Bar Mix, combines fresh rosemary, garlic, and a touch of maple syrup of a treat that's as complex as it is savory.

Son't sleep on the long-standing Krema Nut Co., located just south of Grandview, for an assortment of savory, sweet, and even chocolate-covered nuts, in addition to an assortment of premium nut butters.

Pretzels

Like popcorn, pretzels often erroneously receive a bad rap for being boring, but you better check the facts on that one. Not only does Ohio serve up a huge variety of bagged pretzel snacks (Conn’s, Grippo’s and more come to mind), but soft pretzels are also widely available in The Arch City.

Stop by the North Market Downtown to pay a visit to Brezel, where hand-rolled soft pretzels in falvors like Everything, Sriracha Mozzarella, and indulgent sweet pretzels like Carrot Cake and Mixed Berry + Lavender.

If it’s good pretzels you’re after, following the German restaurants is a failsafe tactic. Spots like Hofbräuhaus and Schmitt’s Sausage Haus serve fantastic soft pretzels, and pairing a soft pretzel at Gëmut Biergarten with one of the traditional German lagers they focus on is hard to beat.

If you're looking for a handful of great options outside of these categories, check out the following local options:

Hellfire Club Pub Grub from Bite This by Annie

No. 1 Salami from North Contry Charcuterie

Cheese Curds from Black Radish Creamery

Whole Wheat Crackers from Stan Evans Bakery

Beef Snack Sticks from The Butcher & Grocer

Welcome to Candyland

With sweets from Germany, Japan, Mexico and more, Buckeye Candy Co. has become a hub for everyone from immigrants to expats, and all the curious candy connoisseurs in between

By Sarah Grace Smith / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer / Story Design by Tori Smith

Candy has always played a special part in Jay and Shana Sokol’s relationship.

When they were dating, the two would gift each other bags of candy, and, at their wedding in 2007, the couple even had a candy buffet. Early in their marriage, Jay and Shana operated a small candy business in California, but when they began to start a family, they decided to place their dream on hold for a while.

Later, when the two moved to Columbus in 2017, they decided to go all-in on their dream, and Buckeye Candy Company was opened in Gahanna.

“We picked [the name] Buckeye Candy Company because, while I’m an Ohio State alum myself, the initials BCC are after our three kids, the first letters of their first names,” Jay said.

After they opened the store, they first ventured into the world of nostalgic candies and international imports after customers kept asking for a Marathon bar, a footlong braided caramel covered in chocolate. While the Marathon had stopped production in the 1980s, Jay found something almost exactly the same: the Curly Wurly, an English Cadbury bar.

According to the Sokols, the concept is the largest mom and pop candy store in all of Greater Columbus, and with a candy selection that includes a near-overwhelming number of unique international brands, that much is easy to see.

Their company grew quickly, and in 2022, the duo moved their shop from a tiny strip mall to a location on Granville Street (it remains in Gahanna), increasing their area by 1,000 square feet. The new shop has led to more visibility and walk-ins, helping the company continue to thrive.

Because of its wide selection of international candies, the store has gained a large fanbase of both immigrants and expats searching for a taste of home. It also caters to anyone looking to expand their worldview with candy.

“We’ve tried to open up this portal into the world,” said Jay. “It’s bringing you a taste of everything without having to buy a $1000 ticket to Europe or Australia….You can come to Gahanna and find an international trip.”

When new customers ask Jay what’s the most unusual candy they sell, he points them to the candy bar Turkish Delight, a rose-flavored gel covered in chocolate. He also recommends Crunchy, a honeycomb or sponge candy bar from England.

Many customers are drawn to the wide variety of seemingly normal candies Buckeye Candy Company offers. For example, they carry 15-20 different flavors of KitKats, including cookie dough, Lotus Biscoff and banana peanut butter. They also sell around 30 flavors of cotton candy.

The store doesn’t stop at candy, either. Jay and Shana have expanded into sodas, with 14 types of Root Beer and the famous Scottish Irn Bru. British crisps have been another recent development, with flavors like prawn cocktail, pickled onion and smokey bacon.

As the couple looks to the future, they hope to build a longterm sustainable business. With two of their children already interested in continuing their legacy, the two feel that Buckeye Candy Company will be here to stay.

“We just want to keep growing and expanding and being that old-school mom and pop candy store that a lot of people grew up with in their community,” Jay said.

And we think that’s pretty sweet.

Follow Buckeye Candy Company @buckeyecandycompany to learn the latest on the store

Going Nuts!

The next time you’re craving that perfect bite of crunchy and salty, with plenty of local history built in, be sure to check out these Columbus nut staples.

By Laura Hennigan / Story Design by Tori Smith

As official state nut, the buckeye is fun to use symbolically or as a mascot, but not so enjoyable to actually eat (they’re poisonous). Thankfully there are plenty of edible nuts to be found, including several local Columbus establishments that serve fresh, flavorful and creative offerings.

The Peanut Shoppe

If you’ve been downtown anytime over the past several decades, you’re likely familiar with the giant neon Mr. Peanut sign that has been a staple of The Peanut Shop since 1936. Mike Stone took a job at the shop in 1972 in order to pay for dates at Burger King with his future wife, Pat. Dressing up in a Mr. Peanut costume for $1.50 an hour eventually led to first Mike, then Pat managing the store before they decided to purchase it in 1996. With such a long history, the Peanut Shop invokes pure nostalgia for many people. “People love the smell and are drawn in when we’ve been roasting peanuts or pecans,” said Pat. “I have customers who come in and say this place reminds them of being a kid, or memories of visiting the store years ago with their grandma or grandpa.”

The Peanut Shoppe sells a large variety of nuts, milk and dark chocolates, dried fruits and candies. Their nut products go directly from the roasters and cookers into the case, instead of being prepackaged, and when you walk in Pat can tell you exactly what is fresh and still warm. Along with their best selling mammoth cashews and chocolate covered peanuts, there are plenty of old fashioned treats like Boston Baked Beans. They also make an extra effort to have plenty of hot nuts ready to go whenever there is a show at the neighboring Ohio Theatre, so that patrons can grab a snack on their way in. Pat shared, “it’s such an important presence downtown, we’d like to see it continue forever.”

American Nut Company

When Lisa Robitaille first moved to Columbus, she had aspirations of starting her own business and set her sights on opening a shop in the North Market. In 2017, Robitaille decided to combine her entrepreneurial spirit with her love of cooking, ditch her corporate gig and launch American Nut Company.

The business started out specializing in offering cinnamon vanilla flavored pecans, almonds, cashews and walnuts. It’s grown by leaps and bounds, though, and today they feature over 30 sweet and savory handmade nut flavors, along with a variety of popcorns in fun, unpredictable combinations. “We are obsessed with snacks,” said Robitaille. “We're always coming up with fresh and modern twists on nuts. Our team is pretty crazy and always inventing new ways to combine ingredients. We believe in the 4 S's of snacking: Sweet, Salty, Savory, Spicy.”

The menu includes plenty of gluten-free and vegan options, and has seen a huge increase in products like their Rosemary Bar Mix being used on the charcuterie boards popping up everywhere. Customers know there will always be something new to try, and that they can test out a mix before purchasing. Robitaille also partners with other local businesses like North Market Spices and Al’s Gourmet popcorn to create unique and delicious collaborations “We are part of the food culture in Columbus and we love every bite!”

Krema Nut Company

In operation since 1898, Krema Nut Company has the distinction of being one of the oldest peanut butter manufacturers in the United States. The company has been tucked into the same space on Goodale Boulevard since 1922, which houses their manufacturing area, retail storefront, plus a retro sandwich and milkshake counter. Coowner Brian Giunta’s parents purchased Krema in 1991, then he and his wife bought it from them in 2017. “What makes us stand out is our freshness and commitment to quality,” he shares. “We’re very specific and picky about the vendors we work with and the products we sell. We’re committed to partnering with fantastic, high quality growers.”

Krema works in small batches, roasting nuts like pecans from Texas and cashews from Vietnam once per week, and only making seven to nine days worth of their famous peanut butter at a time. The company is also wrapping up an extensive remodel that will create a larger, more open feel while still allowing customers a view into the roasting area.

“It’s been amazing being a Columbus staple for so long,” said Giunta. “The great support of the community from the beginning in 1898 until now has really been fantastic.”

Bite Size, Done Right

ten of the best snack-size menu items available in Arch City eateries

By Jack McLaughlin / Story Design by Tori Smith

2:54 p.m. is the worst time of day, but you already knew that.

It's the dreaded in-between, the gray space between meals that we all, unfortunately, know too well.

We're here to change that, though. While it's easy to associate dining out with massive meals, in a food city as vibrant and diverse as Columbus, that doesn't have to be the case.

In face, if you know where to look, even some of our best restaurants boast snack-sized menu items that are prefect to fill the afternoon void, without totally filling you up before dinner.

While this list is by no mean exclusive, there's plenty here to give any serious snacker what they're after, so let's dig in.

Bagel Bomb (Bite this by Annie)

It’s hard to say what’s more amazing about these:

1. The fact that nobody else thought to create this incredible local snack, made from stuffing fillings like pepperoni pizza ingredients, butter chicken and more into a spherical chunk of bagel dough, and:

2. Just how delicious these things actually are. Note: these are big enough as a meal for some, so a half may suffice for many!

614 Arepa (Cilantro Latin Fusion)

Inspired by both South America and central Ohio, this Arepa from Cilantro features grilled beef, grilled cheese, cornmeal bread and a cilantro-based sauce. The concept opened its first-ever brick and mortar recently, so now you can grab an Arepa there or at the eatery’s popular food truck.

French Fries (Chapmn's Eat Market)

Fried in beef fat and clarified butter, these Columbus French Fries aren’t just perfectly snack-sized, they’re also served from the local restaurant that was named one of the 50 best in the country by the New York Times

One-Handed (Emmett's Cafe)

As its name suggests, this compact breakfast sandwich—which features egg, white cheddar, crispy prosciutto and rosemary aioli served on an English muffin—can be held and eaten entirely with one hand, (although technically you need a mouth too). The One-Handed is available at both Emmett’s Cafe locations, in the Brewery District and the Old North.

Mozzarella & Sausage Hot Dog (Myungrang Hot Dog)

Don’t let the name fool, this is what most of us in the US would consider a corn dog. But it’s far from a typical one. This popular Korean corn dog spot in the Short North packs half of this dish with melty mozzarella, and the other half with a more traditional sausage.

Classic Poutine (Little West Poutine)

While this eatery—which is located inside the brand-new Junto Hotel—isn’t open just yet, it will be very soon, and it deserves a mention. Mirroring the uniqueness of The Junto itself, Little West Poutine (which will even operate a walk-up window for latenight diners), is tastefully a bit off-center. The Franklinton spot will also offer indulgent speciality poutines and even a dessert dish featuring churros strips served “poutine style.”

Cheesy Double Crunch (Joya's Cafe)

Think of a South Asian-inspired version of a popular fast food taco item, created by one of the city’s best chefs, and you have the Cheesy Double Crunch. An order comes with two, so share one with a friend and you both can grab a near-perfect snack.

Meshikou Chikin Bites (Meshikou Chikin)

Don’t look now, but Columbus is quickly becoming a certified hotbed for Korean fried chicken, but one of its original spots remains one of the best. While you can’t go wrong with their wings or crispy fried chicken by the piece, this Bethel Road spot is now offering Chikin Bites for those who want a boneless option. These new bites—which can be coated in any of the eatery’s six sauces or rubs—is the perfect, poppae snack to share as well.

Pierogi (Hubert's Polish Kitchen)

Don’t sleep on the pierogi, people. One of North Market Downtown’s most popular eateries, Hubert’s Polish Kitchen, offers the traditional dish European dish for only $3 each, filling theirs with mashed potatoes, cream cheese and carmelized onions.

Jhol Momo (Momo Ghar)

Momo Ghar didn’t become one of the city’s best Cinderella restaurant stories for nothing. This dish, which lit the National food scene on fire several years back, features Tibetan dumplings served in a spicy, tomato-based sauce.