Blackeby’s Old Sweet Shop

I love Blackeby’s! I eat a lot of German confectionary and you can’t simply find them in your local supermarket. However, I wish the selection of foods from Germany was more extensive. The shop has the standard Lindt chocolate bon-​bons and Kinder chocolate, but, also some more popular and well-​loved chocolates from this cool country, such as Ritter Sport and the famous Milka Alpenmilch chocolate bars! I only wish that they would stock Kinder Happy Hippos, they are a real treat, and hard to find in Australia! Gute Schokolade!

29/​12/​2011 5 photos
This shop deserves more of a woohoo! I was more like, «O…M…G! I feel a heart attack coming through right about… now!!»
This was the first time I saw this unnoticeable shop front, and as soon as I walked in, I had to slowly take one step at a time up the tiny stairs because I was surrounded by the widest and best range of candy I have ever seen since my little boy years @ The annual Royal Adelaide Show.
I’m officially not diabetic (I have been tested), but I do suffer from blood sugar levels that skyrocket after any meals that contains sugar, then suddenly go down to normal within a few hours. This store is very very dangerous for someone like me who loves the occasional glucose kick up the butt.
Three important words to keep in mind when entering this store: Must… control…thyself.
But walking into Blackeby’s and meeting the shop assistant behind the counter, I instantly felt at home… because let’s face it — this store is a free trip to a mini-​Willy Wonka factory!
The shop assistant and I chatted for a bit about how these products move from USA, England to Adelaide — and of course, how the store is divided into four sections: ‘Kids — best drinks from overseas that you can’t get in Adelaide — imported from USA — imported from UK — Adelaide made’. Big hint: If you really look hard enough around the store, you will find some hidden treasures that cannot be obtained anywhere else in Adelaide! YES! I love you Blackeby’s!
This shop has been open for a long time, and I didn’t even notice it once walking through James Pl. Thanks largely to Unilocal,I finally found you!
Most importantly, the shop assistant took her time, really educated me, and I listened so hard that she picked out her favourite candy from each section… told me that the Cadbury chocolate made in UK is much more creamier and sweeter than the Cadbury made in Australia because of the hotter Australian weather (makes the chocolate melt more faster!)…which just made me drop my jaws at how much she knew about the products. Excellent product knowledge!
One last tip, make sure you bring at least $ 10-​$ 30, cos I guarantee you will walk away with something. This store is really in another league when compared to every other confectionery store in Adelaide. No other store like this comes close, especially when it comes to product range and service. If you don’t believe me, go in there and experience it yourself. Just read the other reviews if you still aren’t convinced at the greatness of Blackeby’s.
I have officially wrote my longest review for Unilocal,so far. Blackeby’s, you deserve every word and minute I wrote for your review. I guess it’s also because my dear Mother worked hard in a candy shop when she was a poor little girl, so I know how hard this trade can be. But you’ve lasted over 128 years, you’re one of the first ones to open in Adelaide, and you define the words «Timeless» and «Everlasting».
BONUS FUN FACTS:
The name of the store is named after the first family who bought what was originally the Ransley confectionery stall — Wiiliam Blackeby and his son Bill Edward Blackeby bought it from Thomas Ransley in 1883. It was the first and has maintained itself as one of the longest trades in Adelaide that has survived all these years.
Also, the long-​lasting company continues its search for future retail sites, desiring to retain the «sweet shop» concept that many local generations grew up with, and ensuring that unique and memorable experience is available to future generations. I’m so honoured to even walk into this store. All I can say is Wow… and I’ll be back again multiple times for my foreign candy fix!

Diabetics beware, you’d best stock up on double hits of insulin before entering this store, as I’m very sure that the atmosphere in here is at least 20% gaseous sugar.
But before I even begin to mention the decadent confectionaries available in here, I’d like to point out that even if you aren’t a fan of any kind of sugar based food product, one should still take a look at this store.
It’s magical, really.
As you can no doubt see from the photos, it is designed with children in mind, but regardless of age, it will reignite that childish wonder in your mind.
They have recently added a large mechanical model display of a steampunk-​esque candy factory producing delicious treats for post-​industrialist children.
It has the feel of a late-​19^th/​mid-​20^th century candy store, I expect to walk in one day and see the staff break out into a well choreographed rendition of ‘The Candyman Can’.
This store needs to be more recognised as a tourist destination as well as a decadent candy store.
They offer the widest range of tasty treats in all of Adelaide.
On top of having countless types of candy in open containers for you to shovel into a plastic bag, they offer a fantastic range of European and American candies and cereals.
POP TARTS!
CAP’N CRUNCH!
YORKIES!
LUCKY CHARMS!
REESE’S PIECES!
They also have sodas and drinks from around the world.
It is one of my primary sources for Dr Pepper (Why it is no longer available normally in Australia, I have no idea).

Hidden on James Place lies a Willy Wonka-​esqe sweet shop that is worth a visit every time your sweet tooth is aching. No other candy store in Adelaide is even comparable to the sheer brilliant décor that Blackby’s boasts.
Grab a bag and fill it with candies, sweets, lollies, chocolates, anything your heart desires. Every shelf is stocked the brim with treats that will turn you back into a child begging his mother for just one bag of delirium inducing sugar.
My favourite part of this store is the imported goods that you’ll hear about in TV shows and movies. Dr Peppers, Grape Sodas, and where I had my first sip of Jones Soda. The pure cola flavour was intense but satisfying.
Looking for some candy. This is the place to go.

What an awesome shop this is, although not for the waistline!
There are so many different chocolates and lollies from all over the world you don’t know where to start. Finally somewhere I can try all the chocolates I hear about from watching American TV shows.
There are shelves and cabinets full of lollies and sweets. A hint, leave the kids at home or you wont be able to drag them out. I made the mistake of taking my nephew in here (lucky I could hand him back to my brother at the end of the day though).

There are places that you really need to reserve for special occasions only. This is one of those places. And yet, it’s soooooo hard to resist going in every time I’m in town.
I think that it’s particularly good if you’re British or American and you feel a craving for some sweets from home, because they’re there in spades. And I think that there’s definitely a difference between Cadbury’s chocolate here, and Cadbury’s chocolate in the UK.
There’s something for nearly anyone here. Every time I walk in, I seem to walk out with way too much sugar. It’s great for doing a bit of Christmas shopping, if you are strong enough to resist the temptation to eat everything you buy.
I think this place is awesome.

Such a great ‘treat’ shop if you have kids who are well behaved and deserve a treat every now and then. Blackebys Old Sweet Shop is fun to visit if you want to have a little bit of entertainment by way of childish excitement and that rich smell of sugar in the air. Do not take kids who are little pains in the rear, because they will just make it difficult for you and everyone else in the shop, grabbing things and tipping things over.
The colourful decorations on the shopfront are really extravagant and quite a big effort; tucked away in the less interesting end of James Place, a side lane easily avoided most of the time, which is why I say it is great as a surprise treat for well behaved kids. If they’ve never seen it before they will just light up when you expose them to this magical wonderland of sugary treats simply in response to all the lovely colour and fantasy elements so well created. It is a very fun atmosphere.
And be aware that besides all the colour and fantasy, sugar is certainly the major element that you are dealing with here — particularly produce from the United Kingdom and from the United States… enough to sink a few ships and completely bust open any diet you may be on yourself.
As an aside: If you’ve just given up that dreadful habit of smoking, stay well away from here if you want to avoid adding weight (go but some almonds or dried fruit) because I swear you will want to stuff yourself with these tasty morsels.
Toffee, chocolate, specialty bars you can’t generally purchase in Australia — some of the best things are the sherbets, the loose lollies and the American peanut butter cup cakes. You can get a White Knight, a Choo Choo and an English Whip…
You can buy a large tin of Quality Street bonbons or jelly beans and fizzy drinks. You will find just about every kind of confectionery here imaginable including some of those rocks that explode in your mouth…
Approach with caution and think carefully before you expose children to this place. Little monsters are likely to grow (yet) another head and your ankles will be sore from the biting, nay, gnawing that surely will follow. It should be a tantrum free area. Good idea to check out the website first. There are three stores around the place, one in Hallett Cove (South of the city) and one at the Brickwork’s (West of the city) and of course the main one in the heart of the city — here.
As with any imported specialty the cost can get quite high… but there are also some locally produced yummy things that don’t seem too expensive so a treat is always within reasonable scope — just remember to be firm — with yourself and with the kids. Not a bad idea to make a pact with them before you go — one item only sort of deal.