Village Candles & Co.: The One-Of-A-Kind Manahawkin Candle Bar

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Seven years ago, Sabrina Thomas began making candles in her tiny 800 square foot condo. Today, she owns and operates Village Candles & Co. in Manahawkin, South Jersey's only candle bar.

And while she hopes to keep growing, she wants nothing more than to stay with the hometown feel she gets from Manahawkin.

"I always want to stay true to my clients. I love the hometown feel," Thomas, who grew up in Barnegat and now lives in Little Egg Harbor, told Patch. "I would never want to be one of the big box stores. I love knowing every client and what kind of candles they want to make. I love them and wouldn’t be where I am without them."

When Thomas started making candles, she quickly realized she was onto something. "The more I made, the more people loved them," Thomas said.

Within a few years, she was running more than eight fundraisers at different schools and selling at major South Jersey festivals. She expanded from just candles to body care products. Then, Thomas realized she could combine her love of making candles with interacting with people.

"I was inspired to create a store where people could come to gather, hang out, and just enjoy each other’s company," Thomas said.

The candle bar experience has several steps. Guests come in and pick a luxury candle jar. Then, they choose a fragrance or even create their own by combining scents. Guests take their candle to the bar and pour it like a cocktail. Guests are invited to bring wine and snacks as they wait for the candle to cool in the freezer. After thirty minutes, the candles are ready to be brought home.

Thomas said she is grateful for her four children, aged 13, 11, 9 and 3. "They are the driving force between the business and I love nothing more than having them with me," she said.

Thomas has a strong connection with her business - she built it from the ground up, with her children watching. "I came from absolutely nothing, from literally homelessness to all of this from working hard," Thomas said. She designed her shop herself and even knocked down the first wall.

After coming from nothing, Thomas said she has loved this experience. "I get to combine all my favorite things, my family, candle making, and getting to know everyone!"

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