5th Avenue Bar

2 ounce milk chocolate candy bar with a center of crunchy peanut butter. Click to Order.

Watch a Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=927Kn1sv3No

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOLb5N-8TIU

History

William H. Luden, of Luden’s Cough Drops, created the 5th Avenue Bar in 1936. It was manufactured in Reading, Pennsylvania until 2009. There are two stories about where the name came from and both could be right. Some think it was named after the street in Reading, PA where the Luden’s throat drops were first made. Most people think it was named after Fifth Avenue in New York City, a fashionable section of town, home to Sak’s Fifth Avenue and Time Square. This area makes you think of elegance and high style. But like we said, it could be that Mr. Luden had both in mind.

One distinction of this candy bar and all of the chocolate coated candy and candy novelties that Luden manufactured is that he made his own chocolate. This was unusual for confectioners at that time. The crispy peanut butter center is somewhat like flaky toffee with a molasses flavor to it. This brings out the flavor of the roasted peanuts.

During World War II, Luden’s was forced to concentrate their production on the 5th Avenue Bar and Luden’s menthol throat drops, both for military use.

The originals 5th Avenue Bar had two thick chocolate coated almonds halves on top. Hershey’s acquired Luden’s in 1986 and discontinued the almonds some time in the 1990s.

Cultural References

In the Seinfeld episode, “The Dealership,” a mechanic steals a candy bar from George Costanza. George has to prove he took it and has to find out what kind of candy bar it was. The 5th Avenue Bar is suggested ”

The 5th Avenue appeared in the 1994 science fiction movie, Stargate.