The Gardners Candies store in the Altoona Wal-Mart Plaza has something new that is attracting a lot of attention – a 1,500 pound chocolate castle.
“Our store at the Plank Road Commons is our largest store and also our showpiece store. We are very proud of its appearance, and it by far draws the largest crowds,” said Gardners Candies President Sam Phillips. “We felt that this castle would be a wonderful addition and make it a real tourist attraction in the Altoona area.”
The medieval chocolate castle has 10 turrets, two gazebos, three towers, a bridge and a courtyard. It measures eight feet in width and five feet in height.
“The castle was built in Pittsburgh by the candy makers at Sarris Candies, Gardners’ parent company,” said Ginger Dishong, media buyer at Egan Advertising. “Gardners castle is 500 pounds heavier than the Sarris castle, which was featured on The Food Network in October.”
Gardners Candies consulted an architect and construction engineer, Keith Evans, and he drew up blue prints and plans for the project. It took 10 candy makers approximately 500 hours to make the castle. It is completely edible and features architectural detailing made with icing and 100 pounds of rock candy, sour balls, bubble-gum balls, chocolate covered pretzels, nonpareils, jelly beans, Nerds and peppermint sticks.
The castle will be decorated according to different holiday themes, and currently it is ornamented with 150 chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs. According to Phillips, the next theme will probably be a general summer time scene, and then it will change to Christmas and then to Valentine’s Day. Other possible holidays or themes include: the circus and Halloween.
“We are surprised and thrilled at the initial response,” said Phillips, speaking of the reaction the large castle is receiving from spectators. “We’ve gotten people commenting right away about it, people who walk in the store and people who bring their children to see it. They’re excited about it, and it’s a real conversation piece, which is the reason why we have it there.”
The castle is scheduled to be on display indefinitely, and a special area in the Altoona store was planned especially for the giant treat.
“When the store was originally designed and built a few years ago, we left that corner of the store empty with the idea that down the road we would include something like this in the store, and it’s worked out perfectly,” said Phillips.
He also said that the reaction from the people who have seen it has been very positive, and it is something that has to be seen in person to truly enjoy all the details and special architecture of the castle.
“We encourage everyone to come see it and have some fun. We want our store to be a fun place to visit, and this just adds to that theme,” said Phillips.
