At 1428 Amity Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, a sweet chapter in American confectionery history began. It was here, in 1938, that Josh Early IV and his wife Millie opened a small candy shop and factory within their family home. Under the sign that read Early’s Old Fashioned Chocolates—handcrafted by Josh IV himself—they began producing handmade candies using traditional recipes, pure ingredients, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Below: Small candy shop and factory, rear of 1428 Amity Street.
Inside that modest Amity Street kitchen, the aroma of melting chocolate mingled with the hum of hard work. It was here that Josh IV crafted his very first batch of butter creams under the curious eye of his young son, Josh Early V. Together, father and son worked side by side for years, developing a reputation for confections that were rich, fresh, and unforgettable.
Below: Josh Early IV and his wife Millie.
But the roots of this legacy stretched even further back. The Early family’s candy-making tradition began in the early 1900s, when J. Mark Early—known as Josh Early III—sold wholesale confections under the name Richardson and Early. His son, Josh IV, inherited the craft and carried it into the storefront on Amity Street, where he and Millie spent 38 years building a loyal customer base and perfecting their methods.
Even as the candy industry shifted toward mass production, the Earlys stayed true to their old-fashioned ways—making small batches by hand with real cream, butter, and time-honored techniques. Locals would line up for holiday orders, and many families considered a visit to Amity Street a treasured seasonal tradition.
In 1976, after nearly four decades of operation, Josh and Millie announced their retirement. On December 3, they filled their final orders, covered the machines one last time, and quietly locked the doors of the beloved shop. The closing was kept low-key; the Earlys didn’t want a crowd. But word spread, and the remaining chocolates sold out quickly. The bittersweet farewell was marked by a touching photo of Josh IV giving Millie a kiss on the cheek—a final moment inside the shop that had been their life’s work.
Below: Josh Mark and Millie Early cover their candy-making machinery for the last time with the final orders ready for shipment.
Though 1428 Amity Street would no longer house candy-making magic, the Early legacy endured.
Back in 1956, Josh Early V had already begun expanding the family business, producing candy wholesale in Baumstown with his wife Marge. In time, they opened a retail location on Hamilton Boulevard in Allentown, bringing the Early tradition to a wider audience. Their son-in-law, Barry Dobil, joined the business in 1972, and with his help, a second store opened on Bethlehem’s Nazareth Pike in 1982.
When the construction of Interstate 78 disrupted their original Allentown location, the Earlys relocated to a new and permanent home at 4640 Tilghman Street, where Josh Early Candies continues to serve the community to this day.
Now a fifth-generation family business, Josh Early Candies proudly maintains the same recipes and standards that were first brought to life at 1428 Amity Street. With four family members actively involved, and every batch still handmade using time-honored methods, the Early name remains synonymous with quality and tradition.
For many, the memory of that little Reading shop lives on—in the scent of chocolate, in a perfectly dipped butter cream, and in the joy of sharing something truly sweet.
Below: Josh Early Candies, 4640 Tilghman St., Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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