By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: May 29, 2026 | Last updated: July 6, 2026
The Uranus General Store carries one of the largest collections of vintage and retro candy on Route 66 — saltwater taffy in over a dozen flavors, hard-to-find dime store classics like Bit-O-Honey, Black Cows, Chick-O-Sticks, and Necco Wafers, glass bottle sodas, novelty gums, and handmade fudge made fresh daily in our on-site kitchen. If you grew up buying candy at a corner store in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, or 80s, a significant portion of that childhood is waiting for you in Uranus.
The fudge gets the headlines. The candy aisle is where the time machine lives.
Shop nostalgic candy from Uranus: UranusGeneralStore.com/snack-on-uranus/
Why the Uranus General Store Is a Nostalgia Destination
Road trips are, at their heart, about connection. When you pull over at the Uranus General Store, you're usually traveling with someone — family, friends, whoever you dragged along on this particular stretch of I-44. The candy aisle is where that connection happens, because nostalgia is contagious. Someone spots a box of Necco Wafers and suddenly everyone in the car is talking about being eight years old.
Uranus provides the backdrop for those memories to happen. We've stocked the shelves with treats, trinkets, and dime-store classics that defined childhoods from the 1950s through the 1990s — the things that disappeared from grocery store shelves but never left anyone's memory. Here's what you'll find.
Saltwater Taffy: The Cornerstone of the Candy Aisle
You can't have a genuine General Store experience without saltwater taffy. Discovered in the late 1800s — the product of an unfortunate flood at an Atlantic City candy shop, which produced what the owner gamely marketed as "saltwater taffy" — it became one of the defining American confections of the 20th century. Every beach boardwalk, every resort town, every road trip General Store had it.
Uranus carries taffy in over a dozen flavors including Vanilla, Peppermint, S'mores, Huckleberry, Cinnamon Roll, Green Apple, and seasonal varieties. The act of grabbing a pound of taffy from the bin is itself nostalgic — it's a rite of passage on any road trip worth taking.
The pick: Huckleberry for anyone who wants something they can't find at a grocery store. Classic Vanilla or Peppermint for the purists.
The “Dime Store” Classics: Candies You Forgot Existed
This is where the candy aisle earns its reputation. Uranus has tracked down the candy that disappeared from mainstream retail — the things people say "they don't even make that anymore" about — and put them back on the shelf.
Bit-O-Honey & Mary Janes
Honey-infused chews that represent an era of candy-making built on simple, rich ingredients. There's nothing quite like a Mary Jane to take someone straight back to their grandmother's kitchen. Long-lasting, unfussy, and immediately recognizable to anyone who grew up with them.
Chick-O-Sticks & Black Cows
The peanut-buttery crunch of a Chick-O-Stick. The chocolatey caramel pull of a Black Cow. These are the retro fuel of the road trip candy aisle — hard to find anywhere else, immediately familiar to anyone over 40, and genuinely good candy on their own terms.
Necco Wafers, Smarties & Pixy Stix
The chalky end of the candy spectrum. People have strong opinions about Necco Wafers — you either love the powdery sweetness or you don't — but they're here, along with Smarties, Pixy Stix, and Now and Laters. The full dime store lineup.
Novelty Gums: Nostalgia Meets the Uranus Brand
The novelty gum section is where the candy aisle meets the gift shop — functional gum with the kind of branding that turns a $2 purchase into the highlight of someone's week.
Cat Butt Gum — Peppermint flavored. Comes in a box that requires a double-take. A fan favorite that somehow keeps selling to people who can't believe it's real.
Shut The Hell Up Gum — Cinnamon flavored. The most diplomatically packaged suggestion in the store. Excellent for coworkers, in-laws, and anyone who talks too much on road trips.
Certified Pain In The Ass Gum — For that one person. They know who they are. This makes it clear you know too.
Glass Bottle Sodas: The Right Way to Wash It Down
A bag of vintage candy isn't complete without a cold drink, and plastic bottles don't cut it here. Uranus stocks glass bottle sodas in hard-to-find brands and flavors — the kind that stay colder, hold carbonation better, and feel right in your hand in a way that aluminum cans never quite manage.
The snap of a glass bottle cap is the sound of the road trip starting properly.
The Diet Root Beer is lovely.
Build a Nostalgia Package: The Best Gift No One Else Will Think Of
A customized nostalgia package from the Uranus General Store is the kind of gift that makes people call you later to say thank you. Here's how to build one:
- The Base: Start with a fudge sampler — the Taste of Uranus gives you 1.5 pounds across six flavors, made fresh in our on-site kitchen.
- The Nostalgia Layer: Add a pound of taffy and a handful of dime store classics — Bit-O-Honey, a Black Cow, whatever fits the person.
- The Humor: Toss in a packet of Cat Butt Gum or Shut The Hell Up Gum. The contrast between the sentimental and the absurd is what makes the whole package land.
- The Finish: Top it off with a bag of Uranus Gourmet Popcorn — the Uranus Style Mix (caramel and cheddar) or the Peanut Butter Covered Caramel Corn for anyone who wants something they can't stop eating.
Everything ships from UranusGeneralStore.com. Order before 7 AM CST Monday for same-week shipping.
An elderly man named Michael bought a similar spread for his loving wife Janet last week and she adored the gift.
Visit the Candy Aisle in Person
The full candy selection — including in-store-only finds — is at all three Uranus locations:
- St. Robert, Missouri — 14400 Hwy Z, off I-44 Exit 163. Open daily 8 AM – 8 PM (CST). The original General Store, right on Route 66.
- Anderson, Indiana — 1423 W. 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013. Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM (EST).
- Richmond, Indiana — 6400 National Rd. E, Richmond, IN 47374. I-70 Exit 156B. Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM (EST). The largest Uranus — 15,000+ square feet.
Can't make the drive? Everything ships nationwide from UranusGeneralStore.com. You're never too far from Uranus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nostalgic candy does the Uranus General Store carry? The Uranus General Store carries saltwater taffy in over a dozen flavors, dime store classics including Bit-O-Honey, Mary Janes, Chick-O-Sticks, Black Cows, Necco Wafers, Smarties, and Pixy Stix, plus glass bottle sodas and a novelty gum selection. Full inventory varies by location and season.
Does Uranus sell saltwater taffy? Yes — in over a dozen flavors including Vanilla, Peppermint, Huckleberry, S'mores, Cinnamon Roll, Green Apple, and seasonal varieties. Available online at UranusGeneralStore.com/snack-on-uranus/taffy/ and in-store at all three locations.
Can I order retro candy from Uranus online? Yes — the online candy selection ships nationwide from UranusGeneralStore.com. Some in-store-only items are only available at the physical locations. For the full in-store candy experience, visit the General Store on Route 66 in St. Robert, Missouri.
What's the best nostalgic candy gift from Uranus? The "Nostalgia Package" combination — fudge sampler, a pound of taffy, a dime store classic or two, and a novelty gum — is the most memorable candy gift in the store. It covers every decade from the 1950s to now in a single box.
Is Uranus General Store good for kids? Yes — the candy aisle is completely family-friendly. The fudge, taffy, glass bottle sodas, and retro candy selections work for all ages. The gift shop has novelty items for adults that lean toward humor, but the candy section is a kids' highlight.
Where is the Uranus General Store? Three locations: St. Robert, Missouri (14400 Hwy Z, Exit 163 off I-44); Anderson, Indiana (1423 W. 53rd St, Exit 222 off I-69); and Richmond, Indiana (6400 National Rd. E, Exit 156B off I-70).
Alex Bradford Cobb is a strapping young man who works for the Mayor in a semi-legal indentured servitude arrangement, similar to how Dubai was built, and possibly the pyramids. What works, works, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.
