A Candy Legacy Since 1897
The First Taffy Pull
Phillips Candies opens its doors on Broadway in Seaside, Oregon, selling hand-pulled taffy and molasses chews. Locals and visitors alike line up outside the bay windows to watch the process — a tradition that still draws crowds today.
A Family Tradition Begins
Thomas "Tom" Phillips purchases the shop and begins what will become three generations of candy-making under the Phillips family name.
Sweetness During Wartime
Despite sugar rationing during WWII, Phillips stays open by reducing batch sizes and carefully conserving ingredients. Soldiers from nearby Fort Stevens would visit the shop for a 'taste of home.'
The Window That Stops Traffic
Tom's son Steve Phillips installs a glass wall so visitors can see the taffy-pulling machine in action. The live candy-making display becomes one of Seaside's signature sidewalk experiences.
Online Orders Go Live
Steve Phillips Jr. expands the business with online shipping and wholesale distribution. Phillips gift boxes begin appearing in specialty shops across the Northwest.
125 Years & Counting
Still operated by the Phillips family, the shop continues to use copper kettles, original recipes, and hand-pulled technique to delight customers across generations.
Snapshots from the Sweet Years
Tradition in Every Batch
At Phillips Candies, we don't just make candy — we make memories. Our equipment has changed, but our recipes haven't. We still hand-pull every batch of taffy, stir our fudge in copper kettles, and pour the same pride into every caramel corn order as we did in 1897. Thank you for making us part of your Seaside tradition.