Young Owner Brings Candle Store to Smithville

Ashley Cook wants potential patrons to know that all the soy-based candles in her store are hand-poured. In fact, everything in her store is handmade.

Mostly, though, Cook just wants you to know that her store is there, and by there, she means in on the Village Greene side, next to the

The Candlewyck Cottage opened on Monday, March 5, after spending two years at Woodland Village and four years overall in Cape May Courthouse. This is the store’s fourth location.

“I had an opportunity to be a part of Smithville and I couldn’t pass it up,” said Cook, who opened the store when she was 19 years old. The resident of the South Egg Harbor portion of the township is now 23.

“My mom had the store for 10 years before she hurt her back,” Cook said. “She closed it when I was 18. When I was 19, I opened my own store.”

Cook hopes she won’t have to move her store again. She said over the first two days her store was open, business has been good, but she also has a backup plan, just in case.

“I’m a surgical technician,” Cook said. “I assist the surgeon in the operating room. I hand him instruments, and do whatever he needs me to do.”

She’s been doing that for two years. She started when her store was located in Woodland Village, which is only open seasonally. In order to continue making money all year long, she became a surgical technician after graduating from Star Career Academy in Egg Harbor Township.

“It just works,” Cook said. “I love the balance between the two of them.”

However, she prefers to stay focused on candle making.

Her grand opening is coming up on March 17 and 18. She said there will be free gifts for everyone who comes in, including free samples and door prizes.

The Candlewyck Cottage carries a variety of candles, including soy and beeswax, among others. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

“I want people to know we have an amazing product and I make them myself,” Cook said. “I can tell you all about what it is and what’s in it. But mostly, I just want people to know we’re here.”

For more information, check out the Candlewyck Cottage's Facebook Page or the store's website, thecandlewyckcottage.com.

The Candlewyck Cottage’s arrival is just one of several changes coming to Smithville over the next few weeks:

• Bumble Beeds Bake Shop is opening next week;
• is closing because owner Kelly Coleman is going back to school; and
• is moving into the building currently occupied by Ireland and Old Lace.