Founded Baltimore, Maryland | Headquarters Baltimore, Maryland | |
Founder Herman Charles Wockenfuss Key people Paul Wockenfuss (President and Owner) Website area_served = Baltimore, Maryland and Eastern Maryland | ||
Wockenfuss Candies is a Baltimore-based chocolatier and chain of candy stores in Maryland. The company was founded by the Wockenfuss family in 1915. The family immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1887.
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Overview
Herman Charles Wockenfuss was born in 1875 in West Germany. He came to America in 1887 and eventually learned how to make candy. In 1915, he was able to open the Wockenfuss Candy Company, known as Wockenfuss Candies. Wockenfuss is one of the oldest candy makers in Baltimore. In 1939, Herman Lee, Herman Charles' son, graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and decided to enlist in the Army. He was medically discharged due to an injury to his knee. During World War 2, he remained a civilian employee of the Army and worked at Pearl Harbor as a machinist. Herman Charles continued to operate the business until his son, Herman Lee and his wife, Marian, took over in 1945 when Herman Lee returned from World War Two. Being under Herman Lee's direction, the business continue to grow and added three more stores to its current operation on Belair Road in Gardenville, where they continued to make candies in the basement. From there, the business grew and established itself in several different locations in Maryland. Herman Lee was very creative in making the signature candies that has gained its popularity ever since. Though Herman Lee and his wife are still in the business, their son, Paul, is now the owner and president of Wockenfuss Candies. Under Paul's direction, the business continues to grow and currently, has 8 retail stores in Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Worcester Counties. Currently four Generations of the Wockenfuss family are involved in the business.
Types of Candy
Wockenfuss Candies has a variety of confectioneries such as Caramel apples, fudge, and Lollipops. Some of their specialties include fruit shaped marzipan, crystallized ginger, and mint nonpareils. Kids have a special selection of candy necklaces, gold coins, and cow tails to choose from. The family makes a variety chocolate covered nuts such as cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, and pecans. They also make gourmet truffles and a handful of chocolate covered fruity creams.