By: Rachel Mates
Making a custom candle is only the beginning at Wick N Twisted. Instead of sending customers elsewhere while their candles finish, owners Chris and Sara designed a space that makes the wait part of the experience
The idea, however, began long before its doors opened in Jacksonville Beach.
A visit to a candle-making shop in Cincinnati sparked their interest in the hands-on experience of creating a custom candle. Their time in Charlotte introduced them to self-pour tap rooms where customers could pour their own drinks, play games and socialize.
That’s when it came to them: Why not combine candle making and an entertaining space designed for customers to stick around?
That idea became Wick N Twisted, where customers can choose from a wall of fragrances, create a custom scent and pour a candle of their own. But the experience doesn’t end once the wax is poured.
Hidden within the candle wall is a door leading to another side of the space, with additional seating, shuffleboard, pool, arcade games and a self-pour beer and wine wall. Customers can also bring food from nearby restaurants and enjoy it in space while they wait for their candles to finish setting.
Beyond the games, drinks and candle-making, Wick N Twisted also invites local artists and businesses to offer classes while customers wait for their candles.
“We are a local company, and what we do is try to provide local businesses an opportunity to grow inside our business,” Chris said.
They currently work with about 14 local artists who offer activities, including sourdough making, cooking classes, and painting. These collaborations give customers another way to spend their time while their candles finish and give local creators an opportunity to share what they do.
The partnerships are also visible throughout the taproom, where artwork from local artists is displayed on the walls. By hosting classes and showcasing their work, Wick N Twisted gives local creators another opportunity to share their talents with the community.
The goal of bringing people together extends beyond the classes. The taproom can accommodate larger groups, from birthday celebrations to team-building events, whether candle making is part of the occasion or not.
“They’ll bring teams in so they can do team building because it’s something unique that a company, a business or a nonprofit can enjoy,” Sara said.
For Chris and Sara, keeping customers around was also about making the experience more personal. After visiting candle stores around the country that sent customers away while their candles finished, they knew they wanted to take a different approach.
“We didn’t want to do that,” Chris said. “It wasn’t very personable, and we wanted to get to know each and every one of our customers.”
What was once missing from the candle-making experience has found a place at Wick N Twisted.