A Nashville Candy Shop Will Open a New Location in Gatlinburg This Summer
The tourist town of Gatlinburg is getting another sugar high with a new candy shop that will open this summer. Goo Goo Cluster will occupy a space in the Reagan Terrace Mall in downtown Gatlinburg, adding another candy-loaded sweet shop to an already overflowing mound of sugar options.
Goo Goo Cluster started in a copper kettle at the Standard Candy Company in Nashville, TN, in 1912. This “bar” wasn’t your typical candy bar when it was introduced. In fact, it was the first time a bar was created with more than one principle ingredient. Previously, candy was made solely of chocolate, caramel, or taffy, so its creation was revolutionary. Its ingredients are a tasty, chewy, crunchy mix of caramel, marshmallow nougat, fresh-roasted peanuts, and real milk chocolate in a circular mound.
The candy bar’s name came from one of the co-creators, Howell Campbell, when he was inspired when riding a streetcar with a school teacher who mentioned her son’s first words were “goo goo.” And she told him that’s what he should name his candy bar, leading to the slogan, “Goo Goo! It’s so good, people will ask for it from birth.” The rest is history.
This will be the first time the shop will have a location other than Nashville. Goo Goo Cluster will offer Gatlinburg guests its Design Your Own (DYO) experience with interactive kiosks, inviting people to enjoy making their very own Goo Goo mound. Guests will select from an ingredient list, design a personalized bar, and watch it come to life. I personally think it’s worth it for this aspect alone!
In addition to this ultra cool feature, Goo Goo Cluster will offer a variety of merchandise, seasonal products, and their classic creations which include The Original, Peanut Butter, and Pecan flavors, and also truffles, Lil’ Goos, hot cocoa mixes, and more.
What do you think! Are you ready for another candy shop in Gatlinburg. Again, I think it’s better than some other repetitive options on the Parkway, but I’ll definitely visit to make my own Cluster. Too bad I can’t choose a diabetic, sugar free version…or, can I? If anyone has been to the Nashville location, fill me in, please! In all honesty, it should be another neat sweet addition to downtown. I’ll be sure to share the progress and news of its opening when I hear about it. Thank you all! And, of course, stay tuned!