Dewar's Candy Shop is a family-operated ice cream parlor and candy shop in Bakersfield, California. Originally founded in 1909, it has occupied its location across from Bakersfield High School since 1930.[1][4][5] The shop specializes in making ice cream, taffy chews, chocolates, and other products.[4][6][7][2]
 Dewar's Candy Shop –
1120 Eye St. | |
| Dewar's Candy Shop | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Genre | ice cream parlor |
| Founded | 1909 in Bakersfield, California, US[1] |
| Founders | James H. Dewar George Dewar |
| Headquarters | 1120 Eye St. Bakersfield, California[2], United States |
Number of locations | 3[1][3] |
| Website | dewarscandy |
History
editJames H. Dewar and his brother George Dewar, who were both from Kansas,[8][1] founded the Chocolate Shop in 1909[9] which was located at 1665 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, California.[5][4] At the shop, they created the popular peanut butter taffy, and in 1911, added the peppermint version of the taffies.[8] James, who bought George's part of the business,[1] eventually moved the shop to 948 Baker Street. In 1928, the family moved to Ventura, California for a small period of time and started another shop there.[5] They later moved back to Bakersfield and received an offer to help build the current location at 1120 Eye Street in 1930.[5][4] Around this time James Dewar started creating and distributing ice cream at his shop.[5][3] In 1947, James' son, James A. Dewar, took over the shop with his brother Joe Dewar.[5][4]
In 1977, James A. Dewar's son, George, took over the shop. George's son, Michael, started working in the business by overseeing the manufacturing of the Dewar's taffies.[4][5]
Enlargement of the business
editMichael's daughter, Heather, started a new Dewar's location at 9530 Hageman Road, but it was eventually closed in 2011 to make way for a new location at 2700 Calloway Drive.[5] 2012 saw the opening of the Dewar's Express, a drive-through version of Dewar's Ice Cream.[5][4] In 2019, another flavor of Dewar's taffies, Almond Butter, was released.[10] As of 2019, there are 23 flavors of ice cream served including English Toffee, maple nut, and peanut butter fudge,[6][9]
Since the 2010s, Dewar's hosts the "Cupid's Challenge", an annual fundriser for the Mendiburu Magic Foundation, a local charity.[11][12]
Recognition
editAs of 2005, Dewar's ice cream was sold at the Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store in Hollywood.[13] Food critic Jonathan Gold said in 2011 that
"Dewar's is the best old soda fountain in the state, and even if it didn't make the world's best nut chews... I would still go there for the thrill of seeing the counterwoman tamping the ice cream into sundae goblets in a way that makes the marshmallow crème spurt out the sides."[14][2]
Dewar's Candy Shop and their taffy chews have been featured on the Food Network, as well as in the "Highly Recommend" column of Bon Appetit.[10][1] At the shop, a letter framed on the wall from football player Frank Gifford reads in one section, "I love my peanut butter chews."[7][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Andrew Pridgen (December 11, 2022). "How a Wonderful Californian confection became an international favorite". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Jason Kotowski (July 6, 2022). "Berry Popular:Strawberry Milkshake tops in California". KTLA.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "Dewar's Ice Cream becomes one of CSUB athletics' exclusive concessionaires". learfield.com. June 29, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dewar's 114 year history". dewarscandy.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dewar's Candies & Ice Cream Parlor". visitbakersfield.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Joshua Lurie (June 3, 2007). "Dewar's Candy Shop:Desserts and Decor". foodgps.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "Confectioner lover's paradise in Bakersfield". Los Angeles Times. March 3, 2002. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Lisa Kimble (April 30, 2016). "The name from which Dewar's Ice Cream came from". bakersfield.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Charles Fleming (May 20, 2019). "The Trip to Basque Country". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Alex Pastron (October 28, 2019). "More Likely than not, I've got one of These in my pocket". bonappetit.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Steven (February 13, 2020). "Mendiburu foundation raises funds in exchange for Dewar's chews at annual challenge". The Bakersfield Californian. ProQuest 2354012522. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Mendiburu Magic Foundation hosts annual Cupid's Challenge fundraiser at Dewar's Candy Shop". KGET-TV. February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Swenson, Steve E (June 23, 2005). "Dewar's goes Hollywood". The Bakersfield Californian. ProQuest 461718103. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Jonathan Gold (February 17, 2011). "Dewar's and the Bakersfield Basque Country". Los Angeles Weekly. Retrieved May 17, 2023.