QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 16, 2023 Page 8 For the latest news EDITION visit qchron.com 45TH ANNIVERSARY • 2023
45th Anniversary Edition
Chocolate bliss at Schmidt’s Candy
Serving real homemade confections in Woodhaven since 1925 by Kristen Guglielmo
time of year, summer heat makes candymaking difficult. “Everything has to be a certain temperature,” Schmidt explained. “We’re using real Stepping into 94-15 Jamaica Ave. in chocolate, so it has to be tempered. During Woodhaven is akin to entering a wonderland the hotter weather we had, I had to use a of sweets. refrigerator just for chocolate.” Displays are stocked with confections of “The marshmallows, the caramel,” Florall sorts and chocolates galore in dark, milk ence said, “it all responds very poorly to and white varieties — whether your favorite heat and humidity.” is jelly-filled or has a sweet, caramel center, The store’s usual bestsellers are chocoanyone who enters Schmidt’s Candy is sure late-covered raspberry jelly, butter crunch, to find something to delight the taste buds. nonpareils, caramels and marshmallows. Margie Schmidt, the establishment’s “The things that are hard to make sell the owner, works constantly. She spends time best,” Schmidt joked. “The jellies are hard to tediously making chocolates and candies, make because each batch is different. Today, and is often still at it until late in the night. the butter crunch was just strenuously hard.” It’s a craft she learned from her father, “She makes chocolate-covered gummy Frank, back when he owned the shop, and bears now, which disgust her — but they’re a before then, it was her grandfather, Frank big seller!” Florence said with a laugh. “We Sr., who purchased the building and opened even have a lot of sugar-free options.” The the store back in 1925. sugar-free chocolates are special-ordered Frank Jr. passed away when Margie was and made using a sugar substitute. in her 20s, and she took the reins. Schmidt’s Candy, located at 94-15 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, has been a neighborhood instiThe employees’ personal favorites? “It “I had to take it over, or it was going to be tution for homemade chocolates for nearly 100 years. PHOTOS BY KRISTEN GUGLIELMO changes from week to week,” Florence said. finished,” Schmidt said, relaying that no “I really like the cinnamon sugar — it’s like who say they used to come in with their Schmidt said, with Christmastime the busiother family members wanted to manage the shop. She recalled working at the family own grandparents. est. That’s when Schmidt’s handmade candy the crumb of a crumb cake covered in chocWoodhaven resident Melissa Ramos told canes are a bestseller. “Those will be com- olate. The fudge is really good, too.” business as early as 6 years old. Schmidt said she “likes to keep it simple” Asked if she had any special memories the Chronicle, “I remember my grandmother ing sooner than later,” Schmidt said. Right used to buy me and my sister the chocolate now, in Thanksgiving spirit, chocolate tur- with chocolate crackers and pretzels. working as a child, Schmidt laughed. “I Asked what keeps people coming back to Easter bunnies from Schmidt’s. We used to keys are available. remember my father used to smoke cigars in get so excited, and then one year here back when you could smoke Florence, an employee and longtime her store instead of the competition, Schmidt cited both the quality and quantity. She also she tried to buy the Easter buninside,” Schmidt said. “The string friend of Schmidt who mans the front of the mentioned the online order system has been nies from Duane Reade or some- house, lauded her friend’s work ethic. of ash would be so long.” UNIQUE thing. They weren’t the same.” The decades-old vintage candy “She makes her own hard candy,” Flor- great for business. The shop ships nationally, and it has regulars who make orders online. Additionally, the shop has ence said. “Talk about labor intensive!” molds previously used are on disTREATS The future of Schmidt’s is unknown, as received honorary certificates play, and the shop’s old storefront Asked if she ever takes a break, Schmidt from then-Councilmembers Eric replied, “Don’t go feeling bad for me. This is there’s no one in line to take over the family sign hangs indoors, an ode to the business once Schmidt decides to retire. Ulrich and Elizabeth Crowley, the season. I left at midnight last night, and long history of the establishment. “I can get at least two more years out of Queens Borough President Dono- two o’clock two nights before that.” She Schmidt’s is a treasured staple van Richards and Assemblywomin the Woodhaven community. joked that the holiday season is the “worst this body,” she said, “and then we’ll see.” When the time comes, she said she will The Woodhaven Business Improvement Dis- an Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven), who time but the best time.” definitely let the public know, so that the trict calls the shop “Woodhaven’s spot for last year hosted a ceremony inducting Schmidt even busies herself making Schmidt’s Candy into the state Historic candy on the days the store is closed, Sunday Woodhaven community can bid a final homemade chocolates and sweets.” goodbye to the institution. Business Preservation Registry. Countless residents frequent the estaband Monday. Her breaks are taken during For more information on Schmidt’s “It gets busy during the holiday season. the summer, when the shop is closed for lishment, and Schmidt says she gets cusQ Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day,” good reason: In addition to it being a slower Candy, visit schmidtscandy.com. tomers coming in with their grandkids, Associate Editor
A display of various handmade chocolate confections, left; some sweet treats perfect for Thanksgiving; and Frank Schmidt Jr., o Schmidt’s Candy.
ne of the previous owners, smoking a cigar in a framed photo at
