It's Happening: Sweet Story of Cornerstone Candy Chocolate Factory - Coming Soon to Clarksburg
By Julie Perine on February 07, 2026 from It’s Happening
When the word “chocolatier” comes to mind, I think of Jacques Torres - or Willie Wonka.
That was until earlier this week when I had a delightful conversation with Clarksburg’s Richard Swiger. The proud new owner of the former iconic Merchant Bank building in downtown Clarksburg will soon welcome customers to his very own chocolate factory and retail shop. It all sounds like a confectioners’ dream – and that’s exactly what it is.
“Crazy enough, I’ve always wanted a candy store since I was 10 or 12 years old,” said Swiger. And with true emotion in his voice, he added: “My grandmother and I would make candy all the time and I just want to bring that feeling back.
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He knows everyone will love his grandmother’s fudge as much as he did and outside of candy, he has fond memories of her cakes, pies and other sweet treats and 
he plans to use her recipes.
he plans to use her recipes.
His grandmother also used to purchase chocolate Easter eggs and other candies from Wolfe Candy Company in Nutter Fort.
Contacting the owners of that nostalgic business seemed to be a good place to start with Richard’s sweet vision. So, he reached out to Jim and Shirley Wolfe.
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“The company was started by Jim’s father and after he passed away, they took over and ran it until sometime in the ‘70s,” Richard said. “They still had all their candy equipment, including one piece that dates back to 1895, the same year as our building was established.”
The Swigers purchased Wolfe Candy Company’s recipes.
“I want to bring these old recipes back, have people gather and put smiled on people’s faces. I want to give them a glimpse of a time they never experienced,” Richard said.
He said they also bought from the Wolfes a lot of vintage equipment including old copper kettles and a 2500-pound taffy puller that he said he has no idea how he will get it into the building.
We will have a nostalgia room with old candy from the 1950s through ‘90s. It will be a place to find candy you can’t find anymore.”
“You’ll find any of the chocolates – from cream-filled to marshmallow chocolates. I’m going to guess we’ll have 30 or 40 different chocolate candies including chocolate-covered cherries and pretzels to any of the fondant chocolates.”
Taking center stage will be an old-fashioned soda fountain.
“We went to update New York and found a 1950 Soda Fountain so people will be able to get the old phosphate sodas made right there on the spot,” he said.
Customers will also be able to watch staff making hard candies and taffy. Baked goods – much like he and his grandma used to make - will also be for sale, as well as ice cream and to complement it all, freshly-brewed Guatemala coffee.
It will be a one-stop shop for all things sweet. Bright colorful accents and a nod to Christmas will bring delight to those who stop by.
“You either go big or go home. At Cornerstone Candy, you’ll step back in time from the moment you step through the door,” he said. “It is so unique. I hope and pray people come.”
To start, Swiger will employ eight to 12 people who will be trained by the Wolfs on all stages of the candy making process, including the artistry of décor.
Richard told me how he and Kathy ended up purchasing the old Merchants Bank, a building they had admired. When they heard it was up for auction, they were interested – mainly just to preserve its iconic structure and history.
“As we walked through, we heard people talking about tearing pieces out and what they could sell. I told Kathy, ‘They can’t tear this building up,’” Richard said.
Once they purchased it, the thought crossed their minds to open a hair salon there - one that Kathy owns and operates in White Oaks.(The Oaks Salon).
But she had a better idea.
“She said why don’t you put your chocolate factory there? I said that was crazy. She said, no, seriously, why don’t you think about it,” Richard said.
As the idea seared into his mind, he was quickly persuaded and dream began taking shape as he strives to preserve the building's integrity and being creative along the way. For example, the vault room will become a candy vault.
"There won't be gold, but maybe a golden ticket or two," he said.
A hundred years ago, downtown Clarksburg was stirring with activity. Booming glass factories, and plenty of coal, oil, and gas employment opportunities supported a growing population and therefore rich downtown economy. Stores were bustling with customers and iconic banks served as the financial hub of the area during an era, of course, when face-to-face and cash-to-register transactions were the only options.
Fast forward a century and the city’s population has decreased by more than one-half and malls and subsequently on-line shopping have lured customers from brick-and-mortar retailers. For decades, developers and enthusiasts have tried to bring back that rich downtown economy, and I think someone may have crafted a sweet idea to help make that happen in a building that was once the cornerstone of a bustling city hub.
Editor's Note: Pictured top is the Swiger family: Richard, Kathy, Kylie and Tristan.
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