Theresa candy shop to celebrate grand reopening this weekend

THERESA, Wis. (CBS 58) – A special candy shop in Dodge County is celebrating a grand reopening this weekend.

The owner, Joel Bernhard, achieved success despite being blind since the age of four. Two months ago, we told you about a fire that forced Bernhard to close shop. Now he is ready to welcome back the community.

Fresh candy is bagged, silky chocolate is mixed, and everything is back in the right place.

Around midnight on April 23, Confections for Any Occasion's AC unit caught fire.

“They stripped the ceiling and actually took a vacuum cleaner – sucked off all the soot and smoke, they then took sponges and wiped it, cleaned it off a couple of times, so it’s got lots of layers of TLC,” said Bernhard.

After weeks of cleanup, repairs, sanding, and fresh paint, Confections for Any Occasion by Joel is restocked with new items, like salads, sandwiches and even more local products.

“We’ve got new flavors of saltwater taffy, a bunch of fun, new, kids candy, we got our Wisconsin-made wines, summertime wines. Just in time for Fourth of July,” said Bernhard.

While the shop might have a brand-new look, some things will never change.

“New paint, the walls, the ceilings, the floors, everything got cleaned down,” Bernhard explained.

“The floors still squeak!” said CBS 58 reporter Pavlina Osta. 

“They do, that’s the best part. They have to squeak so I can tell where everyone is when they are walking around,” Bernhard explained.

Even Joel's beloved collectibles are back to their former glory.

“We were able to keep most of it, clean it two or three times and kind of rearranged it so the M&M family is all back together,” said Bernhard.

Joel said he is thankful to his team, the cleaners, and the community for supporting him, and is not going to let this setback hold him down.

"Take lemons and turn them into lemonade. A fire doesn't mean we are down and out," said Bernhard.

This Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, Joel is inviting the community to come to the shop's grand reopening. Confections for Any Occasion opens at 9 a.m.

Stay up to date with Confections for Any Occasion, HERE.

To shop, click HERE.