![]() ![]() “We carry classics like Astro Pops, whistle pops, Necco wafers, wax bottles and all the stuff our parents would let us have when we were growing up,” he said with a laugh. In addition to the various flavors of sodas, Rocket Fizz offers more than 200 types of candy from all over the world, Pena said. That’s where the term ‘You got Moxie’ came from. “It was given to the troops in the trenches during World War I, and they would drink the Moxie because it was supposed to give them superhuman strength. “When it came out it was called an elixir, meaning it was supposed to cure cancer, blindness and things like that,” he said. One of Rocket Fizz’s drinks, Moxie Soda, was created in 1885 in Connecticut, Pena said. We’re just finishing up a deal with John Wayne’s estate to make a root beer.” “We also do a lot of licensing with celebrities and do Judge Wapner Root Beer and Farrah Fawcett Cream Sodas. “We’re the people who make the bacon soda, the cake and pie sodas,” he said. Learn more about the franchise at Canyons Village store carries more than 300 types of sodas, including 70 different types of root beers alone, Pena said. Monday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Rocket Fizz is open at 7 Market Square from 11 a.m. And that's why Lisi is in the candy business. When people walk into the new business, he said, they often are smiling from being on a date or a taking stroll through the square.īut when they leave the store, that smile is even bigger, he said. "It's where people go to hang out," he said about Market Square. Lisi said they considered Gatlinburg for the store but selected Knoxville instead, partially because of its "blend of locals and external tourism." Lisi didn't realize until he came back to Knoxville that his new Market Square space is the same one he eyed up two years ago. He simply was "gesturing at the nearest place." Nothing specific stood out about the space, Lisi said. While visiting East Tennessee a few years back, Lisi was dining at Oliver Royale when he pointed out the space at 7 Market Square as a possible location for Rocket Fizz. "I feel very fortunate compared to many people who deal with that," he said, and eventually decided there's no time like the present to open on Market Square. He has since underwent three surgeries, the most recent one in the spring. He doesn't like bakers' hours, though, so the partners settled on Rocket Fizz.īut opening a second candy store wasn't easy for Lisi, who found out just months after opening the first in 2019 that he had kidney cancer. Lisi's passion for pastries is so intense that his business card includes the title of "pastry inspector," he said, and a doughnut shop was his initial thought when brainstorming business ideas. Just like Goo Goo Clusters make Lisi think of his family and the road trips they took together, doughnuts remind him of his grandfather. The taffy has been a "big hit," Lisi said. Rocket Fizz keeps standard sweets in stock. Like coffee 'a latte?': Check out our guide to Knoxville's local shops and cafesīut don't worry: The offerings aren't all exotic. The store also has a few savory snacks, including unique chips and flavors of jerky. ![]() ![]() ![]() Most of the soda is made with cane sugar as opposed to corn syrup. The store also sells toys and around 500 types of soda, from root beer to bacon beverages to pickle-flavored pop - "dare-you-to-drink-it kind of stuff," Lisi said. The store has items shoppers can't buy unless they hop on a plane, with candy from Japan, Germany, Switzerland and others. Classic candies and 'dare you' flavorsĬandy can be purchased individually or starting at $7.99 by the bag, he said. "I'm really more where chocolate meets caramel and nuts," Lisi said.īut, of course, everyone has a different taste for treats. "That's part of the fun and challenge - just kind of figuring out how to remain relevant," he said.Īcross the roughly 2,500 square feet of store space, eclectically decorated with countless references to yesteryear, the store has around 3,500 different offerings. Power Rangers and SpongeBob can be nostalgic for some people, he said, while older generations reflect fondly on the days of John Wayne. ![]()
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