“For more than a century, Chicago has been home to some of the most iconic names in American candy, including Ferrara, Mars, Brach’s, Tootsie, and Wrigley. Even Milton Hershey found his chocolate inspiration in Chicago at the 1893 World’s Fair,” says Shelly Clarey, chairman of the NCSA. “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.”

The Candy Hall of Fame Experience will be a permanent attraction bringing together the history of the confectionery industry, the development of well-known candy brands, and the innovators and entrepreneurs behind them. It is scheduled to open in summer 2027, with additional details expected to be announced as the project progresses.

Created by industry—designed for the candy-loving public

To develop the experience, NCSA partnered with Jeff Rubin, a Candy Hall of Fame inductee and former founder and CEO of IT’SUGAR. Rubin is known as an innovator in confectionery experiences and has spent more than 35 years finding ways to delight shoppers. He is the creative mind behind some of the most innovative retail concepts, including FAO Schweetz and Dylan’s Candy Bar.

To bring the Candy Hall of Fame Experience to life, Rubin has assembled a creative team that includes experience designer Janet T. Planet, whose work has supported brands such as Nestlé, Wonka, Disney, and Marvel, and David Korins, a Broadway set designer known for productions including Hamilton and Beetlejuice. Korins will serve as creative director for the project.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the support of the City of Chicago. Chicago is the obvious home for the Candy Hall of Fame. It’s the candy capital, full stop,” says Rubin, CEO of the Candy Hall of Fame Experience. “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.”

Together, the team will develop the Candy Hall of Fame Experience as a public venue highlighting the products, brands and industry milestones that have shaped the confectionery world.

Chicago’s role in candy history

Chicago has long been associated with the American confectionery industry, serving as a center for candy manufacturing and trade for more than a century. Many well-known candy brands were developed, produced, or scaled in the region, and it has long been a place where the industry gathers. 

“Candy carries joy across generations,” says Janet T. Planet, chief wondermaker for the Candy Hall of Fame Experience. “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.”

For more information, email info@CHOFexperience.com. To follow along, visit CHOFExperience.com or the official Candy Hall of Fame Experience Instagram page.  

Related: NCSA searches for 2026 Candy Hall of Fame inductees