I'm a lucky guy. I live in Erie and I love chocolate. There's some wonderful places in this city that make and sell great chocolate candy. But today, I'm spreading my wings. I'm going to West County.

Just off Route 5 on Holliday Road in North Springfield is Peggy Gray Candies. People who don't take time to find this place are missing out. It is a local landmark. It is currently owned and operated by Jon Holliday. He's the grandson of Peggy Holliday, who founded the business in 1922. Peggy Holliday? I thought this is Peggy GRAY Candies!

"My grandfather thought that Peggy Holliday wasn't a good name for a candy business,” says Jon. “So, she went with her maiden name which was Gray. That's how we got Peggy Gray."

In the early days of the business, the candy eggs were hand-dipped. Machines now help with that job. Some of the equipment has served the company for decades and decades. I see a reliable old fondant beater that goes back to the early days of Peggy Gray. Also, the company continues to use special antique metal molds imported long ago from Germany. Jon likes to tell the story of his grandmother buying a mold of the Hindenburg to cash in on the airship's popularity. That candy item was quickly discontinued in 1937. Today however, the focus is on Easter candy. Customers started asking for it weeks ago.

"Oh yeah. Oh yeah,” exclaims John. “They got impatient for the eggs mostly. That's the big thing. the eggs."

The shelves are filled with all kinds of Easter candy. Colorful thin mints are a best seller and Jon says you can't find mint candy like this anywhere else. Of course, this is Easter Bunny season, but customers are always asking for chocolate covered Swedish Fish that are available year 'round. Jon says he and his staff were experimenting during the slow COVID season and came up with the creation.

"It started out as just playing, you know. Then all of a sudden we make a lot of them,” he says.

Peggy Gray's is located in rural Erie County. Many customers find the store while staying at the summer camps and rental properties in the area. Peggy Gray's does not ship its candy. And that's okay. Those customers keep coming back.

"These people come in and they like our candy,” says Jon. “They drive up from Pittsburgh and stuff and buy it during the off-season."

What's the best seller you ask? Well, during Easter season, it’s the peanut butter filled chocolate egg. Next is the butter cream filled egg.  "That sounds wonderful," I say to Jon who is now behind the checkout counter.  "I'll have both of those and I'll also take some of those thin mints!

Peggy Gray lived to be 99 years old and was still making candy until age 93. By the way, this weekend is a great time to visit the store in North Springfield. The Easter Bunny will be visiting on Sunday, April 6 from 1 to 4 pm. The bunny will give children an Easter treat and pose with them for pictures.