"Just Go To The Little White House On Doty Street In Oshkosh”
After seeing the recent Discover Oshkosh post about Hughes Chocolates opening for the season, I got thinking about how, when I was a kid, it seemed every special event included the gift of a box of chocolates- the perfect gift for any occasion, right? After moving to Oshkosh “a few years ago” the buzz from friends and family was not about just any chocolates, but Hughes chocolates.
I will admit that as much as I loved getting them as a gift, I was a bit in the dark about how one went about buying a box of these desired delicacies. Sure, people said “just go to the little white house on Doty Street in Oshkosh”…but I have to admit feeling a bit uncomfortable just going to someone’s house to buy candy. There weren’t really any signs saying “Hughes”. All I could see was a side door. But I had to find out what was behind the door.
And what was behind the door was the sweet smell of chocolate and candy. What was behind the door was not just a small little shop in the basement selling Hughes Chocolates, but the factory as well. OK, factory sounds too big and impersonal, so maybe “workshop” is a better choice of words. And that workshop was founded in 1942 in the basement of Hughes home. It started with the grandfather of current owner Tom Hughes, and in a few months will taken over by their son, Bret Hughes.
Throughout the year, about 15 different kids of chocolates are made and sold in that little shop (which includes seasonal offerings). My mother used to love the Maple Creams. For me, the Coconut Creams or the Meltaways. And the Pecan Clusters. Wait…also the Peanut Clusters.
So head over and go in through that little side door and step into an Oshkosh tradition that stretches far and wide throughout Wisconsin.
