Bartons Candy and Chocolate

Bartons Candy and ConfectionersOnce an institution in New York, Bartons Confections candy is still around.

Founded in 1898, their site says that it was in 1938 that the company was started by Viennese candy maker Stephen Klein, a first store Bartons Salon De Chocolat Shops in the New York area. Klein came to the U.S. as a refugee, and with family and partners, started the company the next year.

They are known for their Kosher chocolate, and were headquartered at 80 De Kalb Avenue in Brooklyn.

The company began with door-to-door sales, in a one-room factory. As the company grew, they were known as Barton’s Bonbonnieres. The company became publicly traded in 1960, and at one time operated 3,000 stores across the United States. Today, they are owned by the A.L. Bazzini Co., Inc., which originally operated in Tribeca, then moved to Hunts Point, N.Y. and later to Allentown, Penn. The company is still kosher.

The brand no longer owns and runs their own shops, though their products are sold in retail stores across the country and online, including Amazon. Read below for many comments on the history and brand.

Author

  • Garland Pollard

    J. Garland Pollard IV is editor/publisher of BrandlandUSA. Since 2006, the website BrandlandUSA.com has chronicled the history and business of America’s great brands.

51 Comments



  1. Barton’s Candy is to sweet and not enough cashews or almonds in it. Will not buy product again. This was my first time to buy it. But will not buy ever. Clusters was just like eating sugary caramel. And the caramel was not tasteful.

  2. I think I remember Barton’s making Quality Street in the 1960’s. Am I mistaken?

  3. Bought Barton’s on thirteenth avenue in brooklyn as a child. Where are vyou

    1. I also lived in boro Park and shopped on 13th Ave as a child

  4. I got a Barton’s Pumpkin Spice bark at a Christmas gift exchange. Three delightful pieces; my gifter told me it came from Cracker Barrel. Oh, my! Yummy! I’m having a hard time saving pieces for my cousin over the holidays. She always gets so much candy, all of it delicious. I then found Barton’s Peppermint Bark at Ollie’s. (Must check out Dollar General!) I’m glad you can get them at inexpensive places. The dark chocolate is very special.

  5. I can find Barton’s almond butter toffee only sporadically, at Christmas time. I hate to say it, but I bought three tins before Christmas in 2015. Since the last time I’d found it in a store, I’d had gastric bypass surgery, and so it took several months to eat. One day, when I removed the lid, I saw something move. I Googled it, and found that the bug and larvae were larder beetles. I then looked at the tin date, and saw that it was sold to me by TJ Maxx after the best buy date, the previous July. Because of chronic depression, and accompanying tiredness, I never got around to taking the empty tin back to the store to complain (I’d flushed the remainder of the contents, grossed out). Your toffee is wonderful, but I’d prefer it without bugs. I’m not that willing to experiment with “exotic” foods, ha, ha.

    1. You’ve kept your sense of humor; God bless you. I love kisses, and wish I could taste an almond one from back in the day.

      1. does bartons still sell the almond kisses? i worked in an upper manhattan bartons store decades back, and those almond kisses were sinfully delicious!

  6. When did the Brooklyn factory close down?

    1. DeKalb Avenue was abandoned in 1983 or so….they moved to the Schraffts’ plant in Boston. That factory was an entire block long!!

  7. Many years ago, I purchased a very large Barton’s Bonbonierre candy mold that would leave and imprint of a leaf in each square bar. The large metal (stainless steel) sheet is 22″ x 9 3/4″ and makes 84 square candies. Is there anyone out there with any information on how old this mold might be? Thanks!!

  8. PLEASE BRING BACK my ALMOND KISSES!!! It’s not Passover without them!!!!!

  9. Hi. Schrafts Candy was located at 529 Main St in Charlestown Mass. Candy production ended in the 80’s but the Schraft Building is an office park and a Boston Landmark. I had the pleasure of discovering Barton’s Peppermint Bark at the local Christmas Tree Shop and it is the best I have ever had!

    1. I was the letter carrier for the 80 Dekalb address. I was there last mailman in which I submitted their new address in Massachusetts. They were all very kind people. At the end of the year and sometimes other times to, they will give me a box of candy. I think they left around 1983. Interesting a new building was built on their former property . Now that building is gone to make way for a condominium. I have been retired since 08. Before the pandemic, I will at times past by the old site as a tour guide on top of a sightseeing bus.

  10. I worked for Barton’s Candy as a Sales Rep for a few years….I started by visiting the factory on DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn. I worked with Izzy Stendig until he retired, then took over the area. I serviced all of New England, and New York State…but not NYC. They had LOTS of people doing that!! When Stephen Klein died, they tried to make a go of it, but failed. The company was sold to American Safety Razor, Staunton, VA, somewhere around 1983. They then combined their candy making with Schrafft’s Candies, which were made in Charlestown, MA….and moved the Corporate Headquarters there. I worked for them until the middle of 1984, the last year there, making over 1 million dollars in sales. They laid me off, because the company was sinking fast. I loved my job, I loved Bartons….I am trying to remember where in Charlestown the factory was….and I remember going there every day, but I moved to the West Coast 33 years ago, and no longer remember the address. Anyone know?? I loved that Company….it’s heartbreaking to see what they did to it.

    1. i have a box 0f barton’s peppermint bark – luv it! best before feb 20 2019 – tastes great. is it still okay for consumption? thanx much. p

      1. If it’s still fresh-smelling….try one! And 2019 isn’t that long ago!!

    2. 529 Main St in Charlestown Mass , retired mailman for Barton Candy 80 Dekalb Brooklyn,NY 11201

      1. I was the stock boy in the Bartons store on Ave J near Coney Island Ave Brooklyn in 1956. The manager was Marcy Liptstein with one of the sales person named Lory.

  11. I am now 83years old.I worked at two Barton’s Sites in Manhattan in the 50’s one was on west 34th st ,one in Grand Central station. We rang up each others sales (to keep us honest). We were permitted to eat as much candy as we we wanted except for the marzipan, and only in the area that could not be seen by the customers. We mailed a great deal of candy as gifts. I sent peanut butter brittle to my aunt Grace in London. I had no favorite, I liked them all.

    1. I have a number of black candy tins and would love to know the years they were made. Do you know how I can find out?
      Coco


  12. I purchased the Almond Kisses in Boca . They do not taste anything like
    they used to.
    I would like to know how the tin is sealed? My tin had 4 round clear stickers. The kisses are sealed in plastic. One was slit.

    Very disappointed .

  13. The new Almond Kisses are terrible. I have bought them for many years during Passover and looked forward to them this year.
    They are not carmel like previous years. Very disappointed

  14. I just bought the Passover Carmel Almond Kisses…they are terrible. the only thing the same is the tin. Bartons started the almond kisses in 1938, the year I was born. I grew up eating them. I haven’t had them for a number of years…..this Passover I bought a few cans..couldn’t wait to open and eat. the packaging is different, the candy is flat, its not chewy like it used to be. I know the company
    was sold, but what happen to the recipes. These tins are expensive….I am very disappointed.

    1. Never mind the recipes….Bartons fired all it’s years-long workers when it was purchased and moved to Boston. MASTER chocolatiers were just…fired. It wasn’t ever the same after that.

  15. I bought 6 tinsd of almond kisses….why are they NOT Carmel soft like a flaky fudge not at all what I have bought in the past 20 years..what’s going on this was no a cheap price and I am very disappointed…..

  16. I was interested to see these posts. We’ve carried Bartons candy for 50 some years. My store was named after Bartons candy in the beginning. I don’t know how many other original Bartons candy stores there are in the US anymore. We’re expecting our first shipment of candy in February (next month) and another shipment in March in time for Passover. We’ll have the almond kisses and we’re taking pre-orders now. Like everything, tastes change, ingredients change and candy changes. But the Bartons name is still around and they’re still producing candy under the name. And we’ll continue to carry it. Check us out on: http://www.bartonstoys.com

  17. I’d be Leary of Barton’s. I worked there a few years ago. It was part of Cherrydale Farms in Allentown pa. The family 2-3 generation ran Cherrydale into the ground and acquired Barton’s. They ran Barton’s into the ground and bought Bazzini Nuts. They run the Barton’s name and Cherrydale through this company. Before Bazzini they were bankrupt and selling off all their machinery. Its a ?????!! Organization now….

    1. i sold bartons to kosher stores and walmart when ross cherry was there–he left and the company hired an executive from barricini who ran it into the ground–

    2. I worked as a Rgl. Sales Rep for Bartons in 1982 -1984. The company moved from Dekalb Ave in Brooklyn, NY to the Shraft’s’ plant in Charlestown, MA….outside of Boston. I worked as the regional for all NE states and NY State, but NYC was covered by other reps. The company was sold to American Safety Razor Company in Staunton, VA, after Steven Klein died, and his sons didn’t want to run it. I loved my job….wouldn’t have left the company…but they let me go in early 1984. They already knew the company was going to close. Warren Burkholder was the Pres at the time, and Dean Stearman was the Sales VP. Don’t know where they went, or did….and it broke my heart to leave.

  18. A nephew of my grandmother, his name was Robert (Rubin) Levine, owned a few Barton’s Candy outlets in New York in the 1930s and 1940s. His main location was in the garment district of Manhattan. As part of my genealogy research, I would like to find out how many retail Barton’s Candy outlets Mr. Levine owned. How would I go about this research? My email address is weinstein1250@comcast.net

  19. Just bought the kosher almond kisses. Have been a customer for years, but had not seen them around here in South Fla until now. I was so excited to find the,. Bought them and I am thoroughly disappointed. The taste was awful, almost spoiled and the form is totally different than the old almond soft ones I used to get years ago. Appreciate your comments. Thank u. Ruth

  20. Hi, I just purchased a box of Bartons Peppermint Bark at our local Dollar General Store.

  21. Can’t find the peppermint bark any place.
    Last year it was at The Christmas Tree Shops.
    In Indianapolis, IN.
    My friends will be disappointed for sure this
    Christmas!
    Shirley

  22. 4yrs ago I purchased a great peppermint bark candy bar from Trader Joe’s after two years they quit carrying them, then the next year I saw Barton’s peppermint bark candy bars at Raleys. I purchased a years supply! I think TJ’s had Barton’s make theirs. This year, I found their products at the Grocery Outlet chain. Unfortunately no single peppermint bark bars. But they had the Tin’s and the 8oz boxes. Enjoy everyone!

  23. Bartons was started by Saul Klein and Isak and Mancie Weingarten. My grandmother, Mancie, made most of the recipes for the candy much of which is still in use. I remember as a very small child sitting on the floor behind the counter reaching into a bin of candy like M&Ms until I was too full. Also after Thanksgiving and Easter getting broken chocolate turkeys and rabbits. The store was on Broadway in NYC between 95 and 96 st. In the late 40’s or early 50’s my grandparents sold their half of the business to Mr. Klein and then he expanded the business. But if you like the truffles thank my grandmother.

  24. I miss Barton’s Candies. I use to live in Los Angeles and for a long time there were places you could purchase Barton’s Candies. Fairfax District, etc. Also, during the Chanukah and Christmas Holidays sometimes the Union Markets like Safeway or Pavilions would carry the Barton’s Candies in colorful tin boxes. I would buy several for gifts. If Barton’s original recipe candies no longer exist, I beseech ALL descendants of King David to rise to the effort of bringing back delicious quality of Kosher Candies back to the public! But made in the U.S. Todah .

    1. Hi
      I worked in barton’s in 1951 on 34 street at the main store. I got the job because my mother and the klein’s were close friends in Vienna. I had a wonderful summer job. My favorite were the almond kisses even though I broke a tooth on one!

  25. Your info about Barton’s Candy is not quite correct. They had MANY of their own retail stores. Over 3,000! See below:
    The company, which began as a one-room factory with door-to-door sales, expanded quickly through the establishment of retail outlets, initially known as Barton’s Bonbonniere. The company, which became a public corporation in 1960, now has annual sales of $17 million and serves 3000 stores throughout the United States.

  26. I’m curious as to why there was a small piece of plastic in my candy? Is this a new ingredient?

  27. I just purchased a Happy Elf from a garage sale that was still in the package, could you tell me what it is worth or do you still sell these? They are adorable.

  28. Interested in the history of the Bartons candy company. We carried the Bartons line of kosher for passover candies for many years in our Kosher establishment..as I recall the original company changed ownership sometime in the early 1980’s? We were unable to purchase the kosher candy for awhile. Can you suggest where I might be able to learn more about their history since that time? Thank you so much. Still think there is nothing equal to the “almond Kisses” made at Passover time.
    Gert Epstein
    epsteinbubbie@aol.com

  29. I recently purchased 3 Barton Candy molds. Each is about 2 ft long, 1 ft wide…They make from 50 to 75 of so of candies. The antique shop I purchassed them from had written on each tag “made 1913″…Can you tell me more about them (how to use them in a home environment)…..they appear to be made of heavy gauge aluminum…Thanks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *