Since opening its doors in July, FD Candy has become a local favorite in Pahrump, Nevada. Owned and operated by Tay, with her husband Colin McCarthy managing the store’s social media and assisting in daily operations, the shop offers more than just sweets—it’s a place where memories are made, laughter is shared, and candy is reimagined through the magic of freeze-drying.
Tay’s journey into the world of candy began as a cottage business. “At the time, I was working with bath and body products, but the market was saturated,” Tay explained. “I asked myself, ‘What’s missing in this town?’ A friend mentioned freeze-dried candy, and things just snowballed from there.”
After setting up her space, located at 301 Oxbow, Ste. 14, Tay decided to turn what was originally intended as a manufacturing site into a full retail shop. “This wasn’t supposed to be a candy store—it was just meant to be a production space,” Tay shared. “But knocking down a wall and adding a window turned it into something more. It became a fun, full-fledged candy store.”
The shop quickly grew beyond just freeze-dried candy, offering a wide variety of nostalgic and novelty sweets. With nearly 70 freeze-dried items and a mix of other confections, FD Candy boasts one of the most diverse candy selections in the state.
At FD Candy, creativity is front and center. Everything in the store undergoes a freeze-drying transformation that changes its texture and taste. Tay and Colin experiment with familiar candies—like Skittles and Jolly Ranchers—creating custom flavors such as watermelon, ghost pepper, and pickle. Their signature item is a fruit roll-up stuffed with cotton candy, a customer favorite.
Colin, who manages the store’s social media, has also introduced fun weekly challenges that draw customers in. “One week, we did a durian fruit candy challenge, and the next, people were eating larva to earn free candy,” he said, laughing. “We even put a freeze-dried cricket on a glazed donut as a joke, and people came in just to try it.”
These challenges not only entertain but also create memorable customer experiences. “We’ve got families who come every Sunday after baseball practice to take on whatever new challenge we come up with,” Colin said. “It’s been amazing to see our customers become friends.”
The heart of FD Candy lies in its ability to evoke nostalgia while building new memories. Tay and Colin thoughtfully curate products that spark joy and remind customers of simpler times. “We wanted to bring back that feeling of going into a candy store as a kid with a quarter and walking out with a handful of treats,” Colin explained. “You can’t find that kind of experience anywhere else in town, but you can here.”
Their goal is to ensure everyone can enjoy the candy, regardless of dietary restrictions or dental issues. “Freeze-dried candy isn’t sticky, so it’s great for people with braces or dentures,” Tay said. “Even cancer patients, who may struggle with food, can enjoy our candy as it melts in their mouth like cotton candy.”
For customers with sugar concerns, FD Candy offers sugar-free options. “We get requests all the time from diabetics looking for something, whether freeze-dried or just a few pieces of something,” Colin shared. “We customize orders to meet their needs—whether it’s sugar-free Jolly Ranchers or chick-o-sticks.”
FD Candy isn’t just about candy—it’s about giving back. Tay and Colin actively participate in local events, donating to the Patriots softball team and working with the library and museum on community projects. “We’ve donated products to P.D.O.P for their pumpkin days as well as worked with their snack shack for the 4th of July. That also helped to introduce people from outside the area to what we offer while they are passing through to buy fireworks,” Colin noted.
Looking ahead, Tay and Colin are excited to deepen their connection with local schools, hoping to host field trips that give students a hands-on experience with the freeze-drying process. “We want to make the candy shop a place where kids can learn and have fun,” Colin said. They also hope to offer incentives in the future to further engage with the community.
For Tay, the best part of running FD Candy is the creative freedom and interacting with customers. “It’s rewarding to see people’s reactions when they try something new,” she said. “I love that we can experiment with flavors and textures in a way that other businesses can’t.”
While Colin handles social media and helps customers in-store, he finds joy in making people smile. “Getting someone to try our candy for the first time is the hardest part, but once they do, they’re hooked,” Colin said. “We keep the ‘free’ in freeze-dried with all the samples we give away.”
FD Candy is more than just a candy store—it’s a community hub where nostalgia meets creativity, and fun is always on the menu. “It’s a pretty sweet gig,” Colin says with a laugh. With plans for new products and deeper community involvement on the horizon, Tay and Colin are excited about what the future holds.
FD Candy’s reach goes beyond Pahrump, with their website and active social media presence on Instagram and Facebook keeping customers connected. Even if you’re not local, you can explore their wide selection of freeze-dried treats and have them shipped right to your door. Colin frequently updates their social media pages with new products and fun promotions, including the ever-popular challenge of the week. Whether you’re curious about the latest flavor experiment or want to join the excitement remotely, following them online ensures you won’t miss a beat. And if you stop in, be sure to mention this article during your visit, and you’ll leave with a sweet treat on the house!
