Bittersweet: Famed candy shop still standing as Davis Fire claims surrounding homes

WASHOE VALLEY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Eddie Ferience's family has been making candy for generations starting out in Akron Ohio.

They opened the Chocolate Nugget in Washoe Valley in 1985.

Last Saturday their beloved business built with so much sweat and tears almost went up in flames.

"Once that fire started it was like a freight train and you could hear it coming," said Chocolate Nugget Manager Lisa Vinella.

Flames surrounded the building, but the candy factory somehow came out intact. Years of history preserved for future generations to enjoy.

"The response has been tremendous on Facebook, phone calls, text messages," said Ferience. "People are just flooding support for us. It's really overwhelming."

Firefighters made a strong stand to save the building. Another thing that helped, the owners had just cleared the lot in back of the building to use for future special event space. It turns out it that was defensible space that may have made all the difference.

"So we have a whole huge lot that was cleared," Vinella told us. "I believe that saved us."

So the candy making continues... From taffy to peanut brittle and of course all that chocolate.

Longtime customers say they're happy about that.

Paul Gelbert's been coming here for decades to satisfy his sweet tooth.

"Nice clean place and all kinds of goodies to eat," he said.

But the owners of this bustling little landmark know that many of their neighbors were not so fortunate.

"Our hearts go out to locals because some of them lost their homes," Ferience said.

And its clear that no one at the shop will ever take the candy business for granted, knowing how close they were to losing it.

"You don't appreciate what you have until you're about to lose it," Ferience said. "It was an emotional few days."