Chris Beers’ obsession with candy stems from his obsession with Gene Wilder in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Beyond the candy, he was fascinated by Wonka’s imagination and weird persona. It was also his inspiration for Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop.

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop had its grand opening Thursday at 730 Main St. in Stroudsburg. Over a hundred people were lined up at the door, waiting to get in.

“More than anything, I set up my stores for the experience and wow factors,” Beers said. "There will be so many things in this store that make people think, Oh, that's weird, that's different, that's unique. Willy Wonka himself had a twisted mind and was a little bit odd, right? That's the inspiration behind our store and that's where the name Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop comes from, from the man that took Charlie into the chocolate factory. I have a very strong obsession with the movie."

Beers moved to Pittsburgh after graduating from Lehighton High School.

After working in the restaurant business for years, Beers said he got tired of working corporate, putting in the long hours, weekends, and holidays.

Married with a young family at the age of 32, he took a leap of faith as a young entrepreneur and opened his first shop in the Pittsburgh area in 2012.

“I started with a small 900 square foot space, very little inventory and very little money," said Beers, “but I quickly learned through its quick success that I needed to expand.”

Beers owns eight other shops in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has a partner at the Ohio locations.

He says the Poconos are home to him, and he wanted to come back and do something here in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“I love what is happening here in Stroudsburg, all the new shops, restaurants, and businesses,” Beers said. “I think it’s moving in a good direction. I think it’s going to blow up, and I want to be here to be a part of it.”

Beers hired an old friend from high school, who lives locally, and will be hiring another half-dozen employees for the store.

In this store, customers will find over 10,000 pounds of bulk candy, he estimates. Candy will be available by the piece, by the package, or by the case.

Some people know what it’s like to have their children pick out a bag of candy that ends up too heavy or they got too much of it. Before you know it, a small bag of mixed candy will end up costing over $20.

“Well, what sets us apart from everyone else is Grandpa Joe’s Candy Buffet,” Beers said. “We’ve created a truly fun experience for everyone.”

The Candy Buffet skips the usual plastic bags to fill and instead offers the $5 box. This box only costs $5, no matter what goes inside or how much it weighs. Kids can have fun, trying to creatively and strategically fill the box from a selection of over 125 different varieties of candy, to its maximum closing capacity.

Also in the store are large wall displays of over 265 varieties of cane sugar sodas in glass bottles, making them the largest selection in Pennsylvania, Beers said.

“Much like craft beers, craft soda is a big trend right now,” Beers said. “Our sodas come from breweries all over the United States."

Adults will love the fresh selection of homemade chocolates, meltaways, truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels and so much more. They carry hard-to-find British chocolates and many other popular international brands, too.

To provide everyone with an experience, besides the candy and soda, there are hundreds of unique novelty gifts including dish towels, coffee mugs, toys, games and a “sock wall,” which will include over 125 types of custom socks.