Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/565724
166 Growing up, Eric Emer- son was a kid in a candy shop, literally. His haunt was Putnam Pantr y, the iconic Route 1 candy and ice cream emporium that was founded by his grandfather in 1951 and taken over by his father in the late 1960s. "I had pretty cool birthday parties when I was a kid," says Emerson, who bought the business from his father at the beginning of 2014. The original idea for Put- nam Pantr y was born when plans were in the works to expand Route 1. Emerson's grandfather owned a plot of land adjacent to the road and realized the increase in traffic would present a prime business opportunity. At first, the shop sold only candy. In 1958, Emerson's grandfather opened an ice cream shop across the street; about a year later, he conceived of the make-your- own-sundae smorgasbord that is now Putnam Pantr y's signature offering. The ice cream operation was even- tually folded into the same building as the candy. Now that Emerson and his wife have taken over the operation, they're in the process of polishing up the somewhat outdated building. They are replac- ing all the old production equipment and installing windows to allow visitors to view the candy making in progress. The goal, Emer- son says, is to create a true "Willy Wonka experience." Putnam Pantry's com- mitment to making its own products will not be chang- ing, however. The majority of the candy will still be made in-house, and the hot fudge on the ice cream will still be freshly made in copper ket- tles out back. "We're going to keep all the things that people expect," Emerson says. "If we're going to do it, we're going to do it right." So don't worr y: The smorgasbord isn't going any where. Putnam Pantry 255 Newbur y St., Danvers, 978-774-2383 putnampantry.com The Emersons have plans in the works to update the store and make the candy- making process visible for customers. photographs by Peg Raciti