It usually happens like this: An older man or woman comes up to the stand. They scan it, nothing really interests them but then they spot the yellow wrapper and get excited. If they have a grandchild next to them, they turn to them and start telling them a story, if they are by themselves, they start telling me. All the stories start with, "Nach dem Krieg..."
At the end of World War II, the American soldiers went around in tanks giving out candy to the kids--candy which included Hershey's (our other big seller) and Butterfingers. So these post-war kids are now full-fledged graying German grandmas and grandpas, but the look on their face would make you think otherwise. The other day, one very proper looking older lady, with her hair all done up and sporting a thick animal fur coat walked up to our stand and with a sheepish look grabbed three. She told her husband, "Sorry, I just have to have them."
Butterfingers themselves may not inspire much in people nowadays, but amazingly enough, to a certain demographic they represent a very significant part of their life.... and I find that pretty cool.
