Huyler's facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1874 in New York City, New York, United States |
| Founder | John S. Huyler |
| Defunct | 1964 |
|
Key people
|
Milton Hershey (employee from 1883 to 1885) |
| Products | Candy, chocolate |
Huyler's was a famous company that made candy and ran restaurants. It started in New York City in 1874 and closed in 1964. For a while, it was the biggest and most well-known chocolate maker in the United States.
The company was founded by John S. Huyler (say "Tyler"). He grew up helping in his father's bakery and ice cream shop. In 1883, Huyler's main candy factory was in Manhattan. John Huyler later became a leader at Syracuse University. He passed away in 1910 when he was 65 years old.
Contents
The Sweet Story of Huyler's Candy
How John Huyler Started His Business
John Seys Huyler was born in New York City on June 26, 1846. His father, David Huyler, owned a bakery and ice cream shop. The family lived above the store. John started working in his father's shop when he was a teenager.
He began making a soft molasses candy. He sold it from his father's store. John saved the money he earned and put it back into his business.
Opening the First Huyler's Store
John Huyler's first shop opened in 1874 on Broadway. It sold ice cream and candy. To attract customers, he put a candy puller in the front window. People walking by would stop and watch the candy being made.
A few years later, he opened three more stores. These were in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Albany.
Growing the Candy Company
In 1881, the company officially became "Huyler's, Inc." They built a factory in New York City to make candy for all their shops. This factory quickly became too small. Around 1883, they moved to a much larger six-story factory.
Huyler's made its candies in small batches. This cost more money, but it helped them check the quality carefully. By 1885, Huyler's candies were sold in popular vacation spots. These included Newport, Rhode Island, and Saratoga, New York.
Famous Employee: Milton Hershey
A very famous candy maker, Milton S. Hershey, worked at Huyler's. He arrived in New York in 1883. Hershey worked for Huyler's until 1885. After that, he went back to Pennsylvania to start his own company.
John Huyler often traveled to Europe. He wanted to learn about new candy ideas. He studied what was being made in England, France, and Germany.
Changes Over the Years
The Huyler's factory building had some challenges. A fire in 1889 caused a lot of damage. Another fire happened in 1917. Firefighters worked hard to put out the flames.
In 1925, a group of investors from the Southern United States bought Huyler's. By 1927, David A. Schulte owned Huyler's candy and ice cream shops. He hoped to open 500 new stores in five years. The factory building was sold in 1928 to make way for apartments.
Huyler's Lasting Impact
When John Huyler passed away in 1910, his company was very successful. Huyler's had 54 stores across America. These stores were supplied by 14 candy factories. About 2,000 people worked for the company.
The Huyler family continued to be involved in the business. In 1910, John Huyler's sons bought shares in the company.
A building in Buffalo called The Huyler Building was built in 1926. It was recognized as a historic place in 2012.
