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Early in 2005, I was on my way to work, walking down the sidewalk in historic Depot Town. The petite retail space next to Quinn's Essentials had a 'for rent' sign in the window.
Being a curious (OK - nosy) person, I peeked in. It was a rewarding sight - long peach-colored brick walls, large wood planks, and paddle fan lights hanging from above.
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The black & white tile at the back hinted at a kitchen. This was later confirmed by talking with the previous renter (and with no small amount of lurking in the back alley). The layout looked like an old-fashioned soda shop. After a couple weeks of 'just looking for fun', I called the number posted in the window. The rent seemed reasonable. Suddenly the daydreaming was more like a possibility.
Why a candy Store? Why not? My then four-year-old daughter and I were sitting at our kitchen table for dinner (I believe that an event of any consequence should involve food). I told her that, ‘Mama would like to have a store. What should I sell? She responded quickly and firmly with, ‘CANDY!’ She sounded so sure, like nothing in the world was more important than the currency of kid: CANDY.
My husband came home from work later that night. We all sat around the kitchen table with markers and crayons, sketching out ‘our store’. Later, armed with 15 years of retail experience, legal papers, permits, and a deep love for nostalgia, we started filling up 23 E. Cross Street with our favorite things.
Thinking about those early days makes me feel so big and so small all at the same time. I am so grateful to God that He would let me do something like this. I hope that I get to 'play store' for a long time.