Exuding a “Willy Wonka-like whimsy, from the fully functioning factory to the enthusiastic owners and ever-changing seasonal decor,” Jacksonville candy shop Sweet Pete’s is getting more national attention.

Founded 14 years ago in Springfield before moving to its current downtown spot, Sweet Pete’s is the best candy shop in Florida, according to Southern Living.

The 58-year-old magazine celebrating Southern food, homes and places named the shop famous for its house-made chocolate bars, caramels and lollipops to its list of “The Best Candy Shops in Every Southern State” published this month on its website.

“ ‘Candy shop' is a pretty modest term for this three-story candy mansion,” Southern Living said. “Housed inside of a 23,000-square-foot Victorian building in downtown Jacksonville, Sweet Pete’s Candy is the largest candy store in the Southeast.”

Located in the 115-year-old former Seminole Club building at 400 N. Hogan St., Sweet Pete’s — named for founder Pete Behringer — is more than just a candy shop. It’s a chocolate factory. And it's home to Fizzes & Fare , a whimsical, colorful restaurant featuring a large menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads and more, plus ice cream, decadent shakes and candy cocktails.

But candy is king at Sweet Pete’s.

There are chocolate-dipped strawberries, Oreos and graham crackers. Fudge and fine chocolates, all made on-site. But there are also more than a thousand other types of classic and novelty candies — everything from Fun Dip to Bazooka gum to Skittles, Airheads and more — to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Sweet Pete’s was chosen for the list by Southern Living editors who researched and visited candy shops across the South.

The accolade comes some five months after Sweet Pete’s was named one of the 10 best candy stores in the United States by USA TODAY’s 10Best. Ranked No. 3, Sweet Pete’s trailed only candy shops in Kansas and Colorado. And it was the only shop from Florida to make the list.

Behringer, the son of Peterbooke Chocolatier founder Phyllis Geiger, launched Sweet Pete’s in 2010 in a three-story home on Pearl Street in Springfield. At the time, he had moved on from the day-to-day operations of the Jacksonville-based chocolatier.

"I wanted a chance to be creative," he told the Times-Union then. "If I want to create a new product, I just do it."

And that’s what he did with Sweet Pete’s.

Four years later, Behringer and Sweet Pete’s gained a national following when they appeared on “The Profit,” a reality TV show on CNBC starring Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World. Following the episode’s airing, Sweet Pete’s sales increased from $7,500 a month to $75,000, said Lemonis, who became an investor in the business with Behringer and his wife, Allison Behringer.

That led to the move to downtown, where they converted the historic building into a candy shop, factory and restaurant.