168.91.2.5 at 16:42, 27 June 2025

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{{Short description|American fast food restaurant}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Inside Crown Candy Kitchen.jpg|thumb|300px|Crown Candy Kitchen. Behind the counter, proprietor Andy Karandzieff mans the milkshake machine.]]
'''Crown Candy Kitchen''' is a fast food restaurant, [[Ice cream parlor|ice cream fountain]], and candy store located on St. Louis Avenue in the [[Old North St. Louis]] neighborhood of [[St. Louis, Missouri]].

This St. Louis landmark is the oldest operating [[soda fountain]] in the [[Greater St. Louis|metropolitan area]], and one of the oldest in the country. The restaurant has an old-fashioned decor with [[Coca-Cola]] memorabilia from the 1930s, an antique cash register, and four-person booths.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rice|first=Patricia|title=Ice Cream Parlors, Old and New|date=1974-07-14|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=3-I|id={{ProQuest|}}}}</ref> It offers a simple menu with [[sandwich]]es, "Chili, Tamales and Other Hot Stuff"<ref>"Crown Candy Kitchen: Malts & Shakes: Soda Fountain and Candy: Old North St Louis, MO: 314.621.9650." Crown Candy Kitchen | Malts & Shakes | Soda Fountain and Candy | Old North St Louis, MO | 314.621.9650 | A St. Louis Tradition Since 1913, Serving Malts and Shakes, Lunch or Dinner with Soda Fountain and Candy, 1 Feb. 2023, https://crowncandykitchen.net/.</ref> and is known for its desserts, especially for its handmade [[Malted milk|malts]] and [[milkshakes]]. It is a popular lunch destination for office workers in downtown St. Louis.<ref name=":0" /> The chocolate is made from decades-old molds, some imported from [[Holland]] and [[Germany]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bulock|first1=Lynn M.|title=Yum! Yum! Yum! A Visit with the People Who Make Chocolate in St. Louis|date=1987-03-08|last2=Mitchell Jr.|first2=Odell|pages=14–15|id={{ProQuest|}}}}</ref>

== History ==
The fast food restaurant was founded in 1913 by two [[Macedonians (Bulgarians)|Macedonian]] immigrants. It was first operated by Harry Karandzieff and his friend Pete Jugaloff,<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=Oldani|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sq4bz14zFGYC&dq=tommy+mike+karandzieff&pg=PA41|title=Sweetness Preserved, the Story of Crown Candy Kitchen|publisher=Virginia Pub|year=2005|isbn=9781891442346|access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> then his son George, and later George's three sons, Andy, Tommy, and Mike Karandzieff.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pollack|first=Joe|title=Crown Candy Kitchen Is Visit to the Good Old Days|date=1988-09-19|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=22BP|id={{ProQuest|}}}}</ref>

Harry Karandzieff and his friend Pete Jugaloff opened Crown Candy in 1913.<ref name=":1" />

Crown Candy has been making ice cream since 1925.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davis|first=Nancy|title=Ice Cream of Homemade Variety|date=1972-08-29|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|pages=1D, 4D|id={{ProQuest|}}}}</ref>

A fire caused by a space heater damaged the restaurant on December 25, 1983. Some Coca-Cola memorabilia and $2,000 of candy was destroyed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hannon|first=Dennis|title=Sweet Future Awaits Fire-Gutted Landmark|date=1983-12-27|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=3A|id={{ProQuest|}}}}</ref>

Business was slowest in the 1970s and it picked up in the 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kmov.com/episode-crown-candy-kitchen-s-andy-karandzieff/article_5a319464-2da3-11ea-b3ca-af99c521497e.html|title=Episode 24: Crown Candy Kitchen's Andy Karandzieff|website=Made in St. Louis/KMOV|language=en|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>

Crown Candy switched from Coca-Cola to [[Pepsi]] in 1999.<ref name=":0" />

George Karandzieff died in hospice on Easter Sunday of 2005 after his sons finished up their work at Crown Candy, with Easter being their busiest times in the year.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Baehr |first=Cheryl |title=St. Louis Standards: Crown Candy Kitchen Can't Stop, Won't Stop |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/food-drink/st-louis-standards-crown-candy-kitchen-cant-stop-wont-stop-36794609 |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Riverfront Times |language=en}}</ref>

== Famous treats ==
The "Heart-Stopping BLT" is a classic from Crown Candy that uses 14 pieces of crispy, kettle-cooked bacon. This famous treat started off as an offering from Harry Karandzieff to [[Adam Richman]] after his failed attempt at the infamous Five Malt Challenge. In 2012, Richman then featured the sandwich on [[Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America|Best Sandwich in America]].<ref name="Baehr">{{Cite web |last=Baehr |first=Cheryl |title=St. Louis Standards: Crown Candy Kitchen Can't Stop, Won't Stop |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/food-drink/st-louis-standards-crown-candy-kitchen-cant-stop-wont-stop-36794609 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Riverfront Times |language=en}}</ref> According to Andy Karandzieff, the BLT first started fairly normal before employees eventually started adding more and more bacon.<ref name=":2" /> Crown Candy Kitchen makes their chocolate candy by hand to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=sherri |date=2009-10-27 |title=About Us {{!}} Crown Candy Kitchen {{!}} Malts & Shakes {{!}} Soda Fountain and Candy {{!}} Old North St Louis, MO {{!}} 314.621.9650 |url=https://crowncandykitchen.net/about/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=crowncandykitchen.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Crown Candy challenge ==
The restaurant offers a challenge to consumers of their trademark malts. Should a person drink five 24-ounce (710 mL) malts or shakes within 30 minutes, they receive the malts for free and have their name inscribed upon a plaque in the store.<ref name="slpd2">{{cite news|first=Joe |last=Bonwich |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |title="Man v. Food" St. Louis episode: Wed. 9 p.m. |url=http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/off-the-menu/uncategorized/2009/02/man-v-food-st-louis-episode-wed-9-pm/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090227090828/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/off-the-menu/uncategorized/2009/02/man-v-food-st-louis-episode-wed-9-pm/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 27, 2009 |date=February 24, 2009 }}</ref> During this challenge you will be disqualified if you: throw up during the 30 minutes of the challenge, go to the bathroom or leave your seat at any time during the challenge, or if anyone helps you by drinking any portion of the malt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=studio2108 |date=2012-05-11 |title=5 Malt Challenge {{!}} Crown Candy Kitchen {{!}} Malts & Shakes {{!}} Soda Fountain and Candy {{!}} Old North St Louis, MO {{!}} 314.621.9650 |url=https://crowncandykitchen.net/5-malt-challenge/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=crowncandykitchen.net |language=en-US}}</ref> The record for the five-malt challenge is 2 minutes, 29 seconds by Randy "Atlas" Santel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSCzLJDXWHI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/qSCzLJDXWHI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Milkshake Challenge Record on Fox 2 Newsdate=24 April 2012 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> For seven malts, the record is six minutes, by Ben Monson.<ref name="record">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Flynn |work=PunchingKitty.com |title=Some Guy From California Beat the Crown Candy Malt Record |url=http://punchingkitty.com/2010/05/13/some-guy-from-california-beat-the-crown-candy-malt-record/ |date=May 13, 2010 |quote=Kevin Ross from San Bernardino, California waltzed in to the popular St. Louis store and proceeded to drain seven malts in six minutes.}}</ref><ref name="record2">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Flynn |work=PunchingKitty.com |title=Crown Candy Record Breaker Lied About His Identity! |url=http://punchingkitty.com/2010/05/14/crown-candy-record-breaker-lied-about-his-identity/ |date=May 13, 2010 |quote=The man that beat the living hell out of the malt challenge at Crown Candy a few days ago is not who he claimed to be. We now are positive the actual record holder is Ben Monson.}}</ref> Since 1913, only about 55 people have successfully completed the Crown Candy Challenge, while several attempt it each week.

== In popular culture ==
The Crown Candy challenge was attempted on the [[Travel Channel]]'s television series, ''[[Man v. Food]]'', by the show's host, [[Adam Richman (actor)|Adam Richman]], on an episode that aired on 25 February 2009.<ref name="ef1">{{cite news|last=Rifkin|first=OJ|url=http://eatfeats.com/man-vs-food-episodes-11-17-air-dates-and-sites.html|title=Man vs. Food episodes #11-#17 air dates and sites|date=January 24, 2009|work=EatFeats}}</ref> Richman was only able to finish about four of the five malts before he was disqualified for vomiting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miklasz|first=Bernie|url=http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bernies-extra-points/bernies-extra-points/2009/02/5-minutes-for-blogging-feb-26/|title=5 Minutes for Blogging, Feb. 26|date=February 26, 2009|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090301085158/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/bernies-extra-points/bernies-extra-points/2009/02/5-minutes-for-blogging-feb-26/|archive-date=March 1, 2009|quote=[H]ost Adam Richman went down for the count on "Man vs. Food" when he took on the Crown Candy Kitchen challenge of drinking five malted milkshakes in 30 minutes.}}</ref>

In 2012, it was featured on another Adam Richman-hosted show, ''[[Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America|Best Sandwich in America]]'', for the "Heart-Stopping [[BLT]]" sandwich.<ref name="Baehr"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book|last=Oldani|first=John L.|title=Sweetness Preserved: The Story Of The Crown Candy Kitchen|publisher=Virginia Publishing|year=2005|isbn=978-1891442346}}
* {{Cite news|last=Rich|first=Marney|title=Travel USA: A Guide for Travelers with Time on Their Hands 3 Hours to Kill|date=1987-10-25|work=Chicago Tribune|page=Q26|id={{ProQuest|}}}}
* {{Cite news|title=36 Hours: St. Louis|date=2006-03-31|work=New York Times|page=F3|id={{ProQuest|}}}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.crowncandykitchen.net Crown Candy Kitchen official website]
* [https://www.kmov.com/episode-crown-candy-kitchen-s-andy-karandzieff/article_5a319464-2da3-11ea-b3ca-af99c521497e.html Interview with owner on ''Meet St. Louis Podcast'']
* [http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=st_louis@148&cur_section=din&property_id=184783 Review from Fodors]

{{Restaurants in St. Louis}}
{{coord|38.651319|-90.197825|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Macedonian American history]]
[[Category:Restaurants in St. Louis]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1913]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Missouri]]

Crown Candy Kitchen - Revision history

168.91.2.5 at 16:42, 27 June 2025