Truans Chocolates

Sorry that the place doesn’t look like it belongs on Mainstreet USA at Disney World, but there are some amazing chocolates inside. Served up by a cheerful, competent staff, Truans does chocolate right. It’s been our family’s go-​to spot for holiday chocolates with never a complaint. Try some and see for yourself!

Delicious chocolates! I especially love the peanut clusters. They’re just as good as the ones sold by Fannie May (the standard bearer). Yes, the interior of the place leaves a little to be desired, but I’m not bothered by it because I’m there to buy candy, not hang out or have a meal. The old Fannie May store I frequented had a larger and more diverse selection than Truan’s, including caramel bonbons to die for (may they rest in peace), but this place does a very good job in supplying the candy connoisseur coterie with the higher end stuff. Surpasses Sanders candy for sure.

I’m not sure what this place is like «off season», but I came in here to pick a box of chocolates for a coworker a few days before Valentines Day and thought their selection was really nice. Yes the place is very dated, but I believe that is a bit of it’s charm. This place is very basic and there were two little old people sharing some chocolates and coffee sitting at the one table. Very cute! I assume that most people who drop by have some sort of history with the place.
Since I was here to pick up chocolates for my coworker friend, I figured why not get myself a box. (Brilliant idea huh!) The chocolates I chose were very good. The lady at the front counter said that they make their own chocolate and that they’ve been around since the 60s. The best way I can describe this place is understated.

I wrote a review for Truan’s Candy which is the same place as this one, same address. For Kate B — where’s your sense of adventure? You missed out on some great chocolate. As far as what the place «looks» like, you’re right. But the chocolate — in my estimation — is first class. Yes, they’re expensive but worth it. Comparing this chocolate to Russell Stover? It’s a SIN, I tell you! I’ve never tried the ice cream because I’m stuck on Kroger’s Private Collection, Sea Salt Caramel Truffle. Oh — My — God! But I hear from others that they still do make ice cream and such. I’ll ask the next time I’m there. BECAUSE THERE DEFINITELY WILL BE A NEXT TIME — AND A NEXT TIME — AND A NEXT TIME…

It looks like the zombie apocalypse has taken place at Truan’s. I arrived early and on the front door was a sign that said, «50% off Easter candy». From my calculations, iit’s halfway thru July. Shouldn’t this candy have had a merciful burial in May?
The inside looks dank and dark. I peered in and saw a greeting card rack that was ½ full. I could also see some candy in the counter but it’s scary how empty the place is.
I remember Truan’s when they had a store in Wyandotte. Then, they had a great rocky road candy. I have no idea what this candy is like and I don’t feel like coming back to see.

Truans has been sitting there along Ford road for as long as I can remember but I never made a visit until yesterday. I have to admit I was disappointed. I can see the potential there but it just doesn’t live up to it which is a total bummer. The place just feels empty and run down. There’s an area where they once served up ice cream and it just sits unused now. The tanks are empty, the mixers and such on the counters are gathering dust, and there’s some seating but why would you sit and have chocolate in the run down space? The lighting is a bit dim, there’s a rack by the window for greeting cards and it’s only a third full. It just feels kind of sad. And I honestly hate to say it because I wanted to love it so.
I walked around a bit taking in the different chocolate offerings and they had a lot out for Easter – chocolate bunnies in milk, dark, and white varieties, chocolate eggs, chocolate marshmallow eggs, etc etc. In addition to that they had cases full of chocolate. I wanted to get a bag of eggs but they were priced quite high ($ 7.99) and I wasn’t sure if I would care for the chocolate so I decided to get a few loose pieces instead. The chocolate offerings are primarily milk chocolate. I’m a dark chocolate gal but I have to admit, any chocolate is good with me. Sure, I tend to be ok splurging on fancy chocolate but I won’t turn my nose at a Hershey Bar. Anyway, the pieces were pretty standard Russel Stovers type fare – vanilla, raspberry, orange cremes, chocolate covered caramels, vanilla nougat, etc. Nothing like the crazy truffles and filled chocolates that you see at boutique chocolate places these days. And that’s really ok with me. I don’t need cayenne pepper in my chocolate all the time. Sometimes I just like something simple.
I made my picks– one of each of those aforementioned cremes in dark chocolate, a caramel, and dark chocolate nougat, a peanut butter milk chocolate piece, and some milk chocolate covered marshmallow eggs. The dark chocolate covered nougat I really liked. It had a nice texture to it (crunchy and a little chewy) and it contrasted nicely with the bittersweet dark chocolate. The vanilla crème I did not care for at all. It just had too much of a fondant sugary taste to it. The raspberry was nice and I could tell had been made with real fruit. The peanut butter was my favorite out of the bunch-​the milk chocolate was nice and creamy and the peanut butter inside was fantastic and very smooth. The marshmallow was ok. Nothing to write home about. I found it to be pretty similar, again, to the Russels Stovers marshmallow eggs I get at the check out at Walgreen’s sometimes. Overall it was chocolate so it made me happy but it didn’t blow me away. I’d go back for that nougat and the peanut butter, though! And I will say the chocolate bunnies and other molded chocolates were cute.
The lady running the store was older and friendly. I enjoyed chatting with her a little bit about American Idol (ha!) and their chocolate offerings, so that’s a plus too. There’s so much that could be great here and since it’s not it just bums me out. Honesty I feel like it wouldn’t take much to make it into something great – a new paint job, a little sprucing, better lighting, pull out (or restock) the greeting cards, and the return of the ice cream section this could be an adorable little ice cream/​chocolate parlor that I would return to again and again. I would SO come back here for a sundae in the summer time instead of DQ down the street if that were the case. But as it stands, I’ll probably be buying my chocolate elsewhere.

This is one of those places that makes you smile when you see the sign. It has been there since the beginning of time and it shows. The décor is outdated and it always looks like they’re in the midst of remodeling, but they are not. It’s just the way it is.
While we do like candy and purchase it often, the real treat is the hand dipped Stroh’s chocolate almond ice cream. They’ll even do a sundae. My husband has been going here since he was a wee one, so maybe this review is more nostalgia than anything, but it keeps us happy and faithful. That’s five stars for me :)

Truans is a great place to get fantastic chocolates! I’ve been going here ever since I was a little girl and not to date me but that means all the way since the 1980’s. They have a great selection of chocolates. Light, dark, white, fruits, creams, even yummy things like caramel and nougats. Holiday selections for Easter, Valentines and Christmas are great. I strongly suggest stopping in because not only will you be supporting a Michigan based company, you will be treating yourself to some mighty tasty treats. Truans ships all across the country so even if you’re out of Michigan, look em up and give them a try!