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The History of The Candy Caboose
It all started with a "For Sale" sign....
On October 31, 2007, the Cannon Family was getting ready for Westside Trick or Treating for Halloween when we noticed a For Sale Sign go in the window across the street from Discovery Depot. I told Andy I would like to look at the building. We called Susan Hogan, American Way, the next morning and by that afternoon we were inside looking around. We study and thought and pondered ...what could we do with this building. For 24 hours, we mulled over the idea of owning a part of downtown Cookeville --and then took the leap! On Saturday afternoon, we signed the papers and prepared to close in January.
So what are we going to put in this building... we tossed several ideas around and in May went to the All Candy Expo in Chicago, IL (as seen on the Food Network). Andy and I decided after this trip...we are going to open a unique candy store!
The Work Begins.....
I had an idea in my head..ok I had several ideas in my head as to how I wanted the store to look. In about a three week time period, we were ready to start the work. We started the remodeling from walls to floors and everything in between. The flooring was Andy's idea and what a GREAT idea it has been! We had Tim Jackson put down polymer flooring with black and white chips. Tom Stricklin did all of our carpentry work and the staff painted the walls.
Cookeville's Best Kept Secret
During this time, we had a local window painter come in and paint the windows with "Cookeville's Best Kept Secret." Wow! Did that ever cause a buzz. People were asking if we were moving, or another store was coming in across the street, to what are you up to... So we decided to turn it into a contest and the winner receiving $50.00 in Depot Dollars from Discovery Depot.
Leave it to a child
The contest started on a Thursday morning and the first individual to pick up a form was Jennifer Vance of Cookeville. She had her 3 year old son, Sam, with her. I will never forget ... Sam was sitting on the counter at Discovery Depot and Jennifer asked him. " Sam, if you were Ms. Sherrie, what would you put in the building across the street?" Sam looked right at me and said, " A CANDY STORE!" She wrote it down and that was that! I remember laughing and thinking leave to the child to read my mind! We took in over 250 entries over the next month and only one...the first one wrote -A candy store. On June 14, 2008, we made the announcement -- The Candy Caboose opening the Fall 2008.
A Confectionary Timeline and an incredible friendship
We needed a logo and graphic designs but I needed someone who understood what was in my head and could apply it. This is where Denice Taylor Rinks enters the next phase of story. Starting in April 2008, Denice and I started meeting for hours on in. I would describe what I was thinking and then in a few days...it would appear in graphic design. It was AMAZING! First our logo and then the incredible timeline that is around the walls of The Candy Caboose. She worked for hours, days, and months plus she had to keep the secret from part of family and friends as to what project she was working on. Denice has created over 60 canvas designs which are all proudly on display at The Candy Caboose.
http://aestheticalclimate.com/works (Slide show of all the work done by Denice Rinks)
Fixtures, Equipment, and such
So we have the building taking shape, the logo, and Denice is hard at work on the candy timeline. We need fixtures, a kitchen, and CANDY!
I start to see some fixtures I think would go great in The Candy Caboose but requires some travel and hauling to get them back to Cookeville! I will remember these outings as some of the most fun adventures I have been on with good friends, employees, and Andy & Tori.
One set of fixtures needed an added touch so with the help of Denice designs, we went to Danny Ransom of Ransom Designs to create panels with our look. Danny is also responsible for our beautiful signs on the outside of the building.
Now, we start ordering all the candy I have been studying for the last six months. For two weeks solid, staff members, staff member's family, friends, and the Cannons are filling The Candy Caboose.
An Opening Date
Labor Day Weekend, we annouce the official opening of The Candy Caboose will be Friday, September 26th at 10 am.
The Candy Caboose Golden Ticket
We decided to have a sneak peak Golden Ticket event on Thursday, September 25th at 4 pm. We distrubited 100 golden tickets across Putnam County. At 4 o'clock we tore the paper off the windows and for the first time since March 2009, people could see what we had been up to for the past year!
WOW! We were as surprised as the customers! Over 200 people came through our doors that night! At one point, people were waiting as far as the front door to check out. It was truly beyond our wildest dream!
Trick or Treating on the Westside
Trick or Treating on the Westside was new for us this year as we were at The Candy Caboose. We gave out over 50 lbs of candy! A fun night for everyone!
Santa Claus arrives
Santa came for two weekend to Discovery Depot and The Candy Caboose plus was asked to help out at Cookeville Communications Christmas Radio Show.
Six months
On March 26th, The Candy Caboose has been open for six months and we are just getting started! Wait and see what we are planning next...
Sherrie Cannon
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The Candy Caboose