Our History
We're Nuts About Chocolate!
Originally from Wilmington, DE, Barry and Jeanne Bomboy were married in 1975 and shortly thereafter, they set off travelling the globe working is such locales as St. Croix and Iran. After travelling and working around the world for nearly three years, Barry and Jeanne Bomboy returned to the United States with the sudden realization that they were without employment (that had been promised) once working overseas for three years.
Seeking a new beginning, they sought out the advice of Jeanne’s aunt and uncle who were in the candy business in Ventnor, New Jersey. George and Mickey Jagielky offered their years of knowledge and wisdom to anyone in the family that was interested in learning their craft. Travelling back and forth from Wilmington, DE to the Atlantic City area, Barry and Jeanne learned the intricacies of how to manufacture homemade chocolates. Once they had decided to make the plunge, they began looking for a location that would allow them to live and work and perfect their craft close to family. They purchased a small little storefront with an apartment above in Havre de Grace, MD in early 1978. The store had a long history once housing a dry-cleaning business and more recently an ice cream stand. They purchased a couple concession cabinets from an old movie theater and one small 20lb. melter, and began the business hand-dipping all of the chocolates right in the front of the store.
The next big change in the business came one month after opening, and that was the birth of their first child, Charlie. The space was limited in the store, so Charlie grew up in the candy store, and there are many people who can recall seeing him in the playpen in the candy store to this day!
The business began to grow more successful due in large part to the help of family and word of mouth from loyal customers. In 1982, two big additions occurred at Bomboy’s. The first event was the birth of Kathy, the Bomboy’s second child.
The second addition was to the size of the building. Needing the space to manufacture and produce more chocolate became a problem that could only be resolved by expansion. In 1982, the candy store nearly doubled in size and the Bomboy’s purchased their first enrober (a machine that allows for mass production of homemade chocolates).
From Home Made Candy to Home Made Ice Cream
From 1982-2000, Bomboy’s expanded another four times until they had run out of space on their property. In 1999, the Bomboy’s purchased the property across the street and built a new store that opened in late 2000. This new location has quadrupled the manufacturing and retail space of the previous location. The new store has allowed for many new machinery purchases, manufacturing processes, and modern conveniences that were not conducive to the confines of the old business location. The original location of the candy store is now home to Bomboy’s Home Made Ice Cream, which opened in July 2001.
Despite the growth and equipment changes, one thing has not changed; the recipes that were used over 30 years ago are still unchanged. The chocolates are manufactured fresh daily and products are made to order.
Nearly 3 ½ decades later, Barry and Jeanne are still omnipresent in the day-to-day operations of the business. The Bomboy’s children, Charlie and Kathy are actively involved in the business as well and they now have children of their own. Bomboy’s Candy is truly a family business.