Sweets for Sara

Thanks to our friend, Sara, who posted a comment on a previous blog, we took a detour to Littleton, a small town in northwestern NH after leaving North Conway and heading back to Nashua.

WHY?  To find Chutters at 43 Main Street.

WHY?  Because it it the site of what’s been called “the world's longest candy counter” and Chutters reportedly has a certificate from Guinness World Records (GWR) to prove it. The story goes that in 2000, at the urging of a store employee, GWR added this new category; but, I could not find it listed in an online search.

NOTE: Guinness World Records, which until 2000 was known as The Guinness Book of Records is a yearly-published reference book with a collection of world records. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling copyrighted book series; it is also one of the most often stolen books from U.S. public libraries.
 
The 3-tiered, store-length candy counter in Chutters Littleton, NH store measures nearly 112 feet and holds 800 jars of sweet treats. All these treats are stored in 500 glass jars of  candy that cost $9.99/lb. Over 60 jars have old-fashioned “penny candy,” including many of yesterday's favorites you might recall like: Necco wafers, Bit O’ Honey, Charleston Chews, gumballs, M&Ms, Skittles, Sugar Daddys, lollipops, licorice, Tootsie Rolls, caramels, jawbreakers, jelly beans (in every color), Sourballs, Gummi Bears, Laffy Taffy, Circus Peanuts, Bullseye Caramel Creams, Mary Janes, Pixy Stix, Bottle Caps, licorice twists, and rock candy
But that’s not all Chutters sells – there’s homemade fudge (sample tasting encouraged) and many assorted candies, plus NH souvenirs, Yankee Candles, and holiday ornaments.
Chutters has been a mainstay on Littleton’s Main Street since the late 1800's. It’s named for its original owner, Frederick George Chutter, a Congregational minister who came to Littleton to preach but resigned his ministry for the dry goods business. The store no longer sells items like that – a sweet change for everyone.