MARGARETVILLE — For several years Jennifer Rhodes and her daughter Soren Rhodes dreamed about opening a candy store. Living in Brooklyn, they were inspired by the special trips they made to the City’s famous Economy Candy Store – one of the oldest retail candy shops in the country. Each visit was a joyful occasion. In fact, Soren celebrated her sixth birthday with a memorable trip to Economy. And, they never walked away empty handed.
What was once a dream has now become a reality. Three months ago, Jennifer and Soren decided to team up and take the leap, opening their own candy store – Jenny’s Candy Shop-- at 816 Main Street in Margaretville. The brand-new shop joins the locally-run businesses on the Eastern end of Main Street that have given the block colorful new life.
The timing was right for their new venture. Six and a half years ago, Jennifer and her family became full-time residents of Roxbury. Previously in real-estate, she brings additional business experience to her new venture. A year ago, Jennifer and Caroline Savuel became the new co-owners of Roxbury’s Bottle Shop, formerly known as Roxbury Wine & Spirits, Inc.
Last summer, Soren graduated from the University of Vermont and moved back home. It was a case of synergy. With Soren home and enthusiastic about joining her mother in a new undertaking, Jenny’s Candy Shop was born. “It made sense as we both have an entrepreneurial spirit,” says Soren of their decision. “We love the independence of having our own business and meeting new people.”
Jennifer and Soren found the perfect location for their shop when a vacant retail store on Main Street became available. For the first few months, they were busy making renovations. From the outset, they envisioned their candy shop as being light and airy with a white exterior that makes it a stand-out on the block. Visitors to the shop can’t miss the welcoming white rabbit in the front window.
Walk into the store and you’ll immediately experience a world that is reminiscent of the pink utopia in the runaway film, Barbie. Jennifer and Soren chose a white and pink color palette for the shop’s interior to highlight modern white wall bins, filled with candy assortments in colors of the rainbow. A pop of deep pink color on a rear wall with a bright neon “Jenny’s Candy” sign, plus an eye-catching silver disco ball mounted from the ceiling are finishing touches.
Baskets of assorted candies, with scoops available for self-serving, fill the center of the store. Other self-serve options include wall dispensers filled with chocolates and bulk bins for gummy candies. Self-serve items are priced by the pound. Customers are also drawn to the specialty chocolates in a counter case. Jenny & Soren have been hands-on from the outset, designing the shop and building the modern white wall shelves themselves.
Jenny’s Candy Shop attracts both the young and the young at heart. For children, it’s a wonderland – a fun place filled with a joyous vibe. From the moment they open the door, kids giggle with excitement and make a beeline for the candy bins with parents in tow. They often ask Soren if she likes working in a candy store. “I love it,” she smiles. Jenny’s Candy stocks nostalgic candy that brings back memories for many adult shoppers, international candy from Belgium, England, China, Japan, Germany, and Mexico, plus Swedish gummy candy—so popular right now
New novelty items include Astronaut packages, containing one freeze-dried Neapolitan ice-cream sandwich, just like those the astronauts took with them into space. The shop also carries nuts, dried fruit, freshly baked cookies., lots of licorice and penny candy, although it isn’t a penny nowadays. Jennifer and Soren are always on the look-out for locally-produced items and have recently added Outsiders Pretzels, a local resource with its own production facility right on Main Street in Margaretville.
When Soren’s sister, Bella, graduated from Bennington College in 2022, the graduation party held at the college featured a long candy buffet table. Jennifer's memory of that candy buffet table has inspired another service Jenny’s Gandy is offering –candy buffet catering for special events. Jenny’s Candy will also be doing fairs and has a table at the upcoming Cauliflower Festival, September 19th In Margaretville.
For Jennifer and Soren, the best part of the job is seeing kids’ faces light up when they visit the shop. “There is a magical quality to candy,” says Jennifer. Customers agree. Hours are Thursday 11-7pm, Friday and Saturday 11-8pm, Monday 11-7pm. Address: 816 Main Street, Margaretville, NY 12455. Phone: 845-586-6673. Follow on Instagram: @jennyscandymargaretville. Email: hello@jennyscandy.com.
