# @columbuslibrary on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DIqx6s7hCOa
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33998021-columbuslibrary-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/6ceae290dc.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-20T12:30:08.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Columbus Library (@columbuslibrary) — https://gondola.cc/columbuslibrary

## Caption

Candy was a side business for Anthony-Thomas, then everything changed ➡️

In 1907, Anthony Zanetos arrived from Greece with limited English and no candy-making experience – but within a few years, he was the co-owner of the Union Depot Candy Kitchen in downtown Columbus. 

In the 1920s, he and his friend August Condas opened The State Confectionery, known for its tall booths and a solid marble lunch counter. Later, he ran a dairy shop in Franklinton, where his son Thomas got his first taste of the family trade. 

Anthony began to dream of opening a father-son business.

Thomas served as a food inspector during World War II. When he returned, he helped his dad open a west side soda fountain called the Crystal Fountain. They sold candy here, and it quickly outpaced the other offerings.

In the late 1940s, sugar was still rationed and ingredients like corn syrup, fruit, and nuts were hard to come by. One provision changed their course: veterans working in the candy industry could buy 30,000 pounds of sugar each year.

Thomas qualified. The rest was history.

In 1952, they made it official, opening the Anthony-Thomas candy company. They made it the old-fashioned way, mixing fondant in a copper kettle and hand-dipping each piece.

In 1970, the company moved to a larger building at 1160 W. Broad St. (pictured). 

In the 1990s, the company moved into their massive 150,000+ square foot facility on Arlingate Lane. 

The business now spans five generations of the Zanetos family, continuing to craft chocolate bunnies, mint meltaways, and of course, buckeyes.

📸 Pictured: The 1160 W. Broad St. facility, once kept at a perfect 68°F and 50% humidity for ideal candy-making. Today, the space serves as a health center.

#ohiohistory #anthonythomas #eastercandy

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## Tags

ohiohistory, eastercandy, anthonythomas

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