Chicago Wins Race to Become Permanent Home of the Candy Hall of Fame Experience

Chicago has beaten New York and Orlando to become the permanent home of the new Candy Hall of Fame Experience, a major immersive attraction designed to celebrate the people, brands and innovations that have shaped the North American confectionery industry.

The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) has confirmed the 60,000-square-foot destination will open in summer 2027 at 830 North Michigan Avenue on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, transforming three floors of a landmark building into what the project’s creators describe as the industry’s first permanent public home.

While the official announcement highlights Chicago’s historic role in American confectionery, CocoaRadar spoke exclusively with Janet T Planet, the project’s Chief Wondermaker and one of the creative forces behind the development, who explained why there was ultimately only one city capable of hosting the experience.

“We looked at New York, and we looked at Orlando, but really landed on Chicago. It had to be Chicago,” she said. “So much of the innovation that shaped the North American candy landscape happened there between the late 1890s and the 1930s. It was essentially the Silicon Valley of confections.”

The decision reflects Chicago’s remarkable confectionery heritage. For more than a century, the city has been home to many of America’s best-known candy companies, including Ferrara, Mars, Brach’s, Tootsie Roll and Wrigley. Even Milton Hershey’s transition from caramel maker to chocolate pioneer traces back to Chicago’s famous 1893 World’s Fair, where he first encountered industrial chocolate-making equipment that would transform his business.

As Shelly Clarey, Chairman of the NCSA, noted: “For more than a century, Chicago has been home to some of the most iconic names in American candy. Establishing the Candy Hall of Fame Experience here reflects the city’s deep connection to the industry and creates a home to celebrate the people who helped build it.”

More Than a Museum

The project is being developed through a partnership between the NCSA and confectionery retail entrepreneur Jeff Rubin, founder of IT’SUGAR and creator of concepts including Dylan’s Candy Bar and FAO Schweetz.

Rubin has assembled a creative team that includes Planet alongside Broadway designer David Korins, whose credits include Hamilton and Beetlejuice.

Planet believes the result will be unlike a traditional museum.

“It threads the needle,” she explained. “The second floor tells the story of candy, beginning with the 1893 World’s Fair before taking visitors through imaginative worlds inspired by the industry’s creators. Eventually you arrive at the Candy Hall of Fame itself.”

Instead of static displays, visitors will encounter immersive environments designed to celebrate both the brands consumers recognise and the innovators behind them.

“People know the brands, and they love the brands, but they don’t necessarily know the stories behind them,” Planet told CocoaRadar. “We often say we’re showing people what’s behind the wrapper.”

That philosophy echoes her comments in the official announcement:

“Candy carries joy across generations. Our goal is to give that joy a place — one that celebrates imagination, invention and the shared delight people feel when they encounter something sweet.”

Three Floors Dedicated to Confectionery

The experience has been designed around three distinct levels.

The ground floor will feature approximately 20,000 square feet of experiential retail, where leading confectionery brands will each have dedicated themed zones complete with interactive installations, character appearances and immersive storytelling.

The second floor will become the ticketed attraction, charting confectionery history from the Chicago World’s Fair through the development of iconic brands before culminating in the Candy Hall of Fame gallery itself.

Above that, the top floor will house a full-service restaurant and event venue capable of hosting more than 500 guests, offering panoramic views across Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan.

Planet said the venue is intended to become a year-round destination rather than simply a tourist attraction.

“We’re hungry to become the epicentre of candy seasonal celebrations. We want to throw the best Halloween party every year.”

The event space is also expected to host industry receptions, brand launches, gala dinners and major celebrations when confectionery trade shows return to Chicago.

The UN of Candy Brands

One of the project’s most ambitious goals is bringing competitors together under one roof.

Planet describes the attraction as: “Essentially the UN of all the candy brands.”

She said the response from manufacturers has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s the first time everybody has been under one roof, and we’ve been so impressed by how everyone has simply said, ‘We have to be there.’”

Funding comes from a combination of private investment and contributions from confectionery companies, while discussions continue with civic organisations and tourism partners across Chicago.

Interest has already extended beyond the confectionery industry itself. According to Planet, organisations ranging from nearby hotels to the Mayor’s Office and even the Chicago Bulls have expressed interest in future collaborations.

Revitalising Michigan Avenue

The attraction also arrives at an important moment for Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Planet noted that the northern end of Michigan Avenue suffered significant vacancies during the pandemic, but is now seeing renewed investment through experiential attractions and destination retail.

The Candy Hall of Fame Experience occupies a prominent building directly opposite Chicago’s historic Water Tower.

“We’ve taken over this incredible building,” Planet said. “From the upper floor we have some of the best views on Michigan Avenue all the way down to the city and across to the lake. It’s a really special location.”

Jeff Rubin believes that location reinforces the project’s purpose.

“Chicago is the obvious home for the Candy Hall of Fame. It’s the candy capital, full stop. Generations of companies built this industry here, and the stories behind those creations deserve to live where they began. This isn’t just a location choice; it’s a homecoming.”

Celebrating The People Behind Confectionery

Although the attraction is designed for the public, Planet emphasised that its wider mission remains recognising the people who built the industry.

“The celebration of the industry comes before anything else,” she said. “It’s about reconnecting people with the brands they love while reasserting Chicago’s place within confectionery history.”

That mission aligns closely with the work of the NCSA, which has administered the Candy Hall of Fame since its establishment in 1971, recognising outstanding lifetime contributions to the confectionery sector.

Candy Hall Of Fame Weekend Registration Opens

As planning continues for the permanent Chicago attraction, the NCSA has also opened registration for the 55th Candy Hall of Fame Weekend, which will take place 22-24 October, at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

The annual gathering remains the confectionery industry’s premier recognition event and will formally induct the Class of 2026, honouring 11 leaders whose careers have helped shape the industry. This year’s inductees are Allison Miazga-Bedrick (Mars Snacking), Dale Buys (The Walt Disney Company), Michael Flynn (Stribbons), Juan Gallicchio (posthumously, Thayer Distribution), Tim Galloway (Galloway Company), Debra Harris (Shankman & Associates), R. “Taz” Murray (Murray Asset Management), Katherine Phegley (Brown & Haley), Kaye Marie Powell (S. Abraham & Sons), Michael Sitarz (Elmer Chocolate) and Alan Yarmaloff (CVS Health).

The weekend will also recognise Michael Rosenberg, President & CEO of PIM Brands, with the NCSA Distinguished Service Award, alongside a programme of networking events, educational sessions and the annual induction ceremony.

For Planet and the Candy Hall of Fame Experience team, however, the annual celebration is also a glimpse of the future. Once the Chicago venue opens in late summer 2027, they expect it to become the permanent gathering place for confectionery history, industry celebrations and consumer experiences alike.

If their vision becomes reality, Chicago will once again be recognised not simply as the birthplace of many of America’s favourite candy brands, but as the city where their stories continue to be told.

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