Candy Factory customer hopes collectible gnome brings comfort to owners after fire
By Christian Petersen
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LEXINGTON, North Carolina (WXII) — Five months after a fire destroyed the Candy Factory in uptown Lexington, community support continues to pour in.
One longtime customer is hoping a collectible gnome will bring comfort to the business owners as they rebuild.
Tanya Swaim first visited the Candy Factory about 10 years ago while searching for diabetic taffy for her late husband, Jimmy.
“He loved to eat sweets,” Swaim said.
While checking out, Swaim noticed a collectible gnome sitting next to the register. She asked whether it was for sale, but employees told her the gnome had an important job.
“She was like, ‘I can’t sell him because he’s watching our cash register,’” Swaim said. “We need him to watch over what we’re doing.”
The gnome, named “Chips” the Wood Spirit, is part of the Thomas Clark collection. Only 100 were made.
According to the Thomas Clark catalog, Chips loved chocolate — making him a fitting guardian for the Candy Factory.
That changed when the business burned to the ground in May.
“When I saw the book, I thought, she needs Chips now,” Swaim said. “He can look over the register when they reopen.”
About six weeks ago, Swaim found one of Chips’ brothers at an estate sale. Knowing only 100 were made, she bought the collectible with the hope of giving it to Candy Factory owners.
“Seeing that gnome sitting there and knowing that that candy factory burned to the ground — it’s very special that I found it,” Swaim said. “I can’t wait to take a picture of it when they reopen.”
Swaim has reached out to the Conrads, the family that owns the Candy Factory, in hopes of giving them the gnome so it can one day take its place beside the register.
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