Chronological timeline.;
1878; A fire destroyed the St. Joseph Michigan home of Edward Cook (E.C.) Palmer. Instead of rebuilding, the adventurous E.C. decided to pack up his family and move to the fast-growing frontier town of Sioux City, Iowa to purchase a wholesale grocery operation.
1892;
E.C.'s eldest son, William B. Palmer, decided to go into business and opened up a wholesale fruit company and realizing that it really is better to keep things in the family, William went into business with his father and brother Charles, forming Palmer and Company.
1892 to 1900;
Prior to the turn of the century, the Palmers identified the need to diversify and delved into the candy business, selling bulk and hard candy in wooden containers from the back of their fruit house.
1900;
The company quickly outgrew its quarters and in moved into a new four-story building. They were extremely proud of their high-rise, thoroughly modern facility that bragged such up-to-date technologies as ammonia cold storage and its own electric generator and steam boilers that supplied cooking steam to make Palmers quality confections. The candy factory made everything from fancy hand-dipped boxed chocolates to penny candy as well as a variety of gumdrops and marshmallows. Candies and the wholesale fruit were delivered to customers by a fleet of horse-drawn wagons.
1900 to 1923;
The roaring 20s brought prosperity to our country and increasing sales to the Palmer fruit and candy business.
1923;
Marked the birth of Palmer Candy Company's Bing candy bar. At the time, candy bars were an innovative concept that was rapidly sweeping the nation. Nearly 40,000 new candy bars were launched as customers changed their buying behavior from purchasing their chocolate bulk at a candy counter or in a fancy box from the neighborhood drug store to buying candy bars at a grocery store and a variety of other more convenient outlets. The Bing candy bar is still produced today and remains a Midwest regional favorite!
1941;
Palmers purchased Sioux City's Soo Candy Company and its peanut-roasting department. This was the beginning of the Palmer peanut and nutmeat business that still exists today.
1956;
The company purchased the candy division of the Johnson Biscuit Company, claiming the rights to the popular La Fama candy brand. At the same time, the company began purchasing candy from other manufacturers and expanded into the repack and rack business - a division of the business continues to be an important part of the company today.
1969;
The fruit company closed its doors, allowing the Palmer Company to focus its energy on the candy business. As the company's growth continued, so did the need to expand into an updated, larger facility.
1979;
The Palmer Candy Company moved to its current location at 311 Bluff Street, - a large factory remodeled exclusively for the production of candy. The facility houses four floors of candy manufacturing, peanut roasting, candy rebagging, warehousing, shipping and offices.
1990;
Palmer Candy Company opened its retail store, Palmer's Old Tyme Candy Shoppe, in the historic Douglas Street 9former factory) location. Selling a wide variety of specialized candies, apparel and of course, the famous BING candy bar, the Candy Shoppe thrived at that location for years.
1993;
Th ecompany made yet another aquistion of purchasing the Green Mill Candy Company of Kansas City to add more depth to its product line.
1997;
Palmer Candy purchased the Art Deco building at 405 Wesley Parkway to use as a storage facility. Orignally built in 1931, this building was was the home of M & L Bakery. The successful bakery ran until 1952 when the building was taken over by the National Furniture Store and then in 1970 converted to Siouxland Furniture Mart.
2007;
This year saw another big change for the Old Tyme Candy Shoppe as the need to expand coincided with the city of Sioux City's interest in aquiring the old plant location. The decision was made to move the building at 405 Wesley Parkway. Great attention to detail and effort was made when the remodeling for the new store site. The familiar octagon tile and maple wood floors are present as well as the beaded walls and steel ceiling replicating much of the sense of the original 1900 building. Additional room was made for a larger museum area as well as packaging used by the company during the past last century. More room was made for the candy display flor area as well allowing a larger selection of every type of candy one could want. From nostalgic favorites to fancy truffles, almost any type of confectionary is available at the Palmer's Old Tyme Candy Shoppe.
Link;
Palmer Candy Co.
Photo's of brochure explaining the history of Palmer Candy Company.;
Photo's of the store on Wesley Parkway and plant on Bluff Street.;
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