• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Having Fun!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

The Candy Shack & Cafe

By MarionMade! on January 3, 2018

THE CANDY SHACK AND CAFÉ.

Thirteen years ago, when Jody Lackey’s father suggested she open a candy shop for the holidays, she had little idea that more than a decade later that temporary shop would grow into a Marion mainstay for both sweets and tasty lunches. Now in Charleston Place on Center Street, the Candy Shack & Café is a go-to for work lunches, catering, and chocolate anything. Anything as in chocolate covered potato or corn chips.

“The combination restaurant/sweet shop, along with the other businesses in Charleston Place make it a destination,” says Jody.

“Marionites will bring their visiting friends and family in for lunch and shopping. And,” she says, “I am excited about all of the improvements going on in Marion. Events like the lofts tours and Taste of Marion and things that are bringing people downtown.”

And, like so many of our locally owned shops and restaurants in Marion, Jody says she enjoys getting to know her customers by name. The same holds true about her neighbors in the mutli-store Charleston Place where, she says, it is like family. Speaking of family, Jody recalls a visit one weekend in May from a family from Kentucky and Cincinnati. She says they learned about a concert on the Visitors Bureau website and decided to make the trip to Marion for the weekend. After a pleasant lunch in her restaurant, Jody relates how the family shopped in Charleston Place before exploring the rest of the downtown and eventually the Harding Home.  And, they plan to come back for Christmas at the Palace in December. This, Jody says it what makes living and working in Marion so rewarding. The small-town atmosphere lends itself to creating great experiences for visitors, as well as locals. She and her staff pride themselves in knowing all the things to see and do so they can make their visit more enjoyable.

#MarionMade #WeAreTheCandyShack #WeAreHungry

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Jason Radel

    Pedaling to Make a Difference The Marion community probably remembers River Valley School student Alex Cooper’s story.  In 2013, at the age of 13, Alex received the diagnosis of osteosarcoma cancer in his right leg.  In April 2016, Alex lost his fight with this terrible disease.  Alex’s uncle, Jason Radel, a Marion County Engineer’s Office […]Read More »
  • Naturalist Encourages Community to Enjoy Local Beauty

    James Anderson is a naturalist with the Marion County Parks District, but he doesn’t solely promote the county parks. “We promote all of our green spaces. I want people to get out and enjoy the outdoors and the wildlife,” Anderson said. “We are really lucky to have dozens of parks and green spaces and so […]Read More »
  • Community Read

    THIS IS WHERE YOU BELONG Marion Public Library is excited to share a book they’d like everyone in Marion County to read. “This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live” by Melody Warnick goes hand-in-hand with the MarionMade! initiative. The book is a how-to manual on fostering “place […]Read More »
  • The Forge Enters Fifth Year of Sparking Small Businesses

    What started as an idea to create more small businesses has paid huge dividends for our community. The Leadership Marion Class of 2017 started TheForge which includes free business classes and a “Shark Tank”-style competition. Participants have started or expanded a number of businesses, including Ability Vending, Attaboys, A Taste of Memphis, the Explore-It-Torium Children’s […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image