With its red and white awning, high tin ceiling, and original wood floors, Piper’s Grocery and Homemade Candies has been a fixture on the northeast corner of the Chariton square for well over 100 years.  In that time, it has become an integral part of southern Iowa history and a purveyor of high-quality merchandise. In the early days, Joe L. Piper would put in a “line call” announcing the daily specials of fresh cut meats, fresh baked bread, or stock groceries. Today, the store stocks full lines of deli meats and cheeses, locally produced foods/artwork, specialty goodies, cake donuts, and groceries. Piper’s has always been known for its high quality foods at a reasonable price.

The story of Piper’s cannot be told, of course, without talking about the candy.  After Joe L. retired, his youngest son, Bob, and his wife, Ruth, took over the store, continuing the tradition of providing top quality food products and excellent customer service. In 1947, they added one more thing: top quality homemade candy!  Bob learned candy-making techniques from his brother, John, who had a shop in downtown Iowa City. He found that he had a real knack for developing and producing his own recipes. These are the same recipes and candy-making techniques that are used in the Piper’s candy kitchen to this day.

Jill Kerns, Owner

MISSION

Our mission is simple: to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalog.