Dinstuhl's has been satisfying chocolate cravings since 1902, when Charles M. Dinstuhl opened his store on North Main in Memphis.  Today, the Dinstuhl family has been making quality candies for five generations, and every piece of chocolate is still made by hand.

When Charles Martin Dinstuhl opened his first candy store in 1902, he also opened The Theatorium, next door.  It was the first Nickelodeon in Memphis and opened with a classic silent film, "The Great Train Robbery".  Now that original candy store and The Theatorium are gone, but Dinstuhl's Candies remains.

Vintage Dinstuhl Fine Candies

Charles M. Dinstuhl, Sr.

Charles M. Dinstuhl, Jr.

Dinstuhl Fine Chocolates

Dinstuhl's Candies              

Rose Makes the "swirl"

"In 1983, leaving a 900 square foot facility in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, the 11,000 square foot "Candy Kitchen" on Pleasant View began operation.  With the new facility Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Company has been able to increase production of candy while still maintaining the highest quality.  In the past 10 years Gene's grandson Andrew Dinstuhl has become involved in the legendary candy company to learn the fine art of candy making.  The fifth generation candymaker is currently in charge of the daily candy production". 

Since 1902, five generations of the Dinstuhl Family has been making high quality candies in Memphis.  It has also been a French Family tradition for well over 85 years.  My Dad remembers many times going to Dinstuhl’s Candy Shop for a treat following lunch at Gerber’s Department Store.  As he says it, “I was still wearing short pants”, so that had to be around 1924 when Model T Fords were still coming off the assembly line.  He told me he and his brother would approach the candy counter with a nickel in hand, choose 3 pieces of candy, and walk away with a little white sack.  When my Father began dating my Mother in 1940, another tradition began when she was given boxes of chocolates for Birthday’s, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, etc.  In fact when my older sister was born in 1949, my Dad gave my Mother 6 lbs. 1 oz. of chocolates, my sister’s birth weight.  So my Mom remembers receiving a 5 pound white satin box, a 1 pound red heart shaped box and a “little white sack.”  My Dad sends Dinstuhl’s Candy to many family members every Christmas.  We each receive a customized, hand packed, 2 to 4 pound box of selected, milk chocolate covered nuts.   Wow, that was a tasty mouthful.  So even today, when you visit their “Candy Kitchen”, it is still possible to find one of the Dinstuhl's, “Cookin up a batch!”

- Dave French (and Charles French)

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