JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — Jeffersonville officials and dozens of fans attended a celebration at southern Indiana's world-famous candy store Friday morning.
There were three big reasons to celebrate:
- Schimpff's was named the Best Candy Store in America by USA Today
- Warren and Jill Schimpff's 35th year of owning and running the business
- The passing of the torch to 5th generation candy maker Steve 'Cousin Steve' Shepherd.
Friday's event included live music, a ribbon-cutting, candy samples and a look at how the business has evolved over the years.
Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore was on hand to congratulate the owners on their amazing legacy.
"It's an honor to be here," Moore said. "A little boy grew up in Jeffersonville in Oak Park, I remember those field trips at school and coming up to Schimpff's. And you look around here, we're still a city that has all these beautiful 100-year-old buildings lining Spring Street, and the success story of the Schimpffs -- it is unchallenged -- 134 years."
Pictured: in this frame grab taken from video dated Nov. 7, 2025, Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore congratulates the owners of Schimpff's Confectionary at a celebration at the world-famous candy store at 347 Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Ind. (WDRB/Mason Mills)
Moore recalled the challenges his family faced being in the restaurant business for about 50 years, and the pressure of meeting payroll. He praised the family for making the sacrifices to keep Schimpff's going for generation after generation.
Mayor Moore then wished Cousin Steve good luck as he takes over as the fifth generation of Schimpffs to run the store, adding that "luck and the help of God" was a big part of the success.
Tom Galligan, a former Jeffersonville mayor, also spoke during the celebration, thanking the Schimpff's for their contributions as well.
Owner Warren Schimpff was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
"I just cannot believe all of the people that are here today, from all aspects of Jill and my life," Warren said. "Family, friends and community. I want to recognize all of you for coming here, from the bottom of my heart. I absolutely cannot believe the honor I see here from people from different aspects of my life -- collecting people, candy people, family people, friends and family that we've met. I can't tell you what it does to me."
Schimpff also noted the influence his father had in his life, and recognize that Nov. 7 is his father's birthday.
"He was born in 1907 — and he was born upstairs at Schimpff's. And it was partly because of his love of Jeffersonville and Schimpff's that I grew up in a family that honored family tradition and the value of Jeffersonville."
He thanked his wife, Jill, and recognized her as an equal partner.
"I really wanted to point out the partner in crime that Jill has been," Warren said. "She's been with me every day. We like to work with each other. We like our company. And she supported me for all my passions."
He then literally "passed the torch" to Steve Shepherd, who will be the fifth generation in the family to carry on the family's legacy.
"Now is the time to pass on the torch. And I think and I know and I hope that Steve has the passion to continue this. It's not an easy job. And I can tell you the worst thing in the world is when I come down the stairs and one of these people says 'WARREN! The ice machine isn't working!' I'm going to pass that on to Steve."
Pictured: in this frame grab taken from video dated Nov. 7, 2025, Schimpff's owner Warren Schimpff literally passes the torch to "Cousin Steve" who will become the fifth generation of Schimpffs to run the world-famous Jeffersonville candy store. (WDRB/Mason Mills)
Steve recognized his wife, Beth, for her help getting him to where he is now, and expressed his gratitude to everyone who voted to make Schimpff's the most popular candy store in America, while praising Warren and Jill for nearly four decades of ownership.
"What an accomplishment to have a business for the last 35 years, let alone taking it from 99 to 134," Steve said. "What dedication and devotion they've got. Then passing the torch from the fourth generation family to the fifth generation family business owner — this is a moment I've been waiting for since I was 10 years old."
He began to get a little emotional as he asked not to be known as a business owner.
"Let's say caretaker, because that's truly what the business is.... It is the center of the Schimpff family universe."
He continued: "another analogy I like to use is the hub of the wheel, and each member of the family is a spoke of that wheel. Now that the fifth generation is at the hub, then the sixth generation is a spoke. The more spokes, the stronger the wheel. And there's always room to add one more."
Steve said he is committed to upholding the standards of all the Schimpffs before him as he thanked his wife and family for their support.
As part of the celebration, Schimpff's is giving customers a 2-oz. bag of its famous red hots with each purchase through Saturday.
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