Candy World, a new store at Broadway Square Mall, sells bulk candy. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

T.J. Patidar wanted something different; she was an accomplished programmer and computer engineer for Computrac in Dallas, so she looked for something a little more whimsical.

“Originally, the goal was to have a fun business,” she said. “I just wanted something I could work around my schedule. My brother-in-law owned a candy store, and he suggested we try that. I thought it sounded like a lot of fun. So I said let’s try.”

That was in 2001, and she opened her first Candy World in Frisco. She has now opened her latest location in Broadway Square Mall.

She admits that at first, she knew nothing about candy.

“I had no idea there are more than 500 different kinds of candy,” she said. “I was overwhelmed. But when I saw the reactions, the excitement, that’s when I fell in love with it.”

Her customers and employees, though, try to help her out. They’ll ask what she’s tried, and what she hasn’t. They made suggestions and recommendations.

“I didn’t know about all the gummies and rock candies and the gooeys, and every day I would try different kinds of candies,” she explained. “I gained almost 10 pounds.”

She draws the lines at the purposefully gross items – the Bertie Botts Every Flavot Beans, which can include flavors such as sardine, black pepper, booger, earwax, dirt and earthworm.”

“All my customers ask if I’ll try it,” Ms. Patidar said. “One day I may. I just afraid to get the vomit one.”

Some of her more pleasant offerings include candy by bulk, and even sold by color – something great for decorations and theme parties, she said.

Her best-sellers vary by age.

“For adults, it’s the chocolates. Of course,” she said. “Any chocolate-covered nuts, or truffles. If you’re talking teenagers, it’s the sours, Warheads and things like that. Those are very popular. For the smaller children, it’s more about the gummies – the plain gummies, such as the bears and the worms. For the little ones, the shape matters more – anything weird looking. That’s their favorites.”

Exotic and unusual sodas are a newer addition.

“One was a real surprise,” she added. “I didn’t think bacon-flavored soda would sell. But it has.

Ms. Patidar says Candy World is open now and ready for its big holiday season.

“Our busiest season is mid-November to Christmas, then second is Valentine’s Day,” she said. “That’s when we’ll sell lots of chocolate, lots of heart-shaped candies.”

Candy World is located in Broadway Square Mall near Sears. Its hours will match the Mall’s hours throughout the holiday season, though its normal hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, call 903-405-2211.

 

Twitter: @tmt_roy