Oct 7, 2008

Candy lover’s dream come trueBy Allan SteinWickedLocal.com

Avon, MA – For Annette M. Harnett, starting her own retail bulk candy store in Avon in 1998 was her “Sweet 16” dream come true.

“I loved the retail environment. It has been my dream,” said Harnett, owner of Pinches & Pounds.

Ten years later, Harnett has moved out of the Avon store and reopened at 785 Bedford St. in Whitman under the same name. The store celebrated its grand opening on Saturday.

The new 1,000-square-foot store is home sweet home to a wide assortment of specialty candy.

“It’s a great location. About 70 percent of our Avon customers live in the area,” said Harnett, a Brockton resident who grew up in Whitman.

Harnett said Pinches & Pounds used to be part of a franchise with stores in Avon, Walpole and Woburn. Only the Whitman and Walpole stores remain under separate management, she said.

The former Avon store, located on Stockwell Drive in the Christmas Tree Plaza, used to have a different owner. In 1998, Harnett, then a part-time employee, bought out the business when she was 16 years old.

“The owner wanted to retire. I had to jump at the chance to have my own store,” Harnett said.

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