Tim and Harline Moyer in their fudge shop in Port Angeles that will close after Christmas Eve until next spring. Charlie Bermant/Peninsula Daily News

Tim and Harline Moyer in their fudge shop in Port Angeles that will close after Christmas Eve until next spring. Charlie Bermant/Peninsula Daily News

‘Brigadoon’ of candy shops in Port Townsend has just two days left before hiatus

PORT TOWNSEND—Shortly after the Dec. 6 downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a small sweet shop appeared up the street, offering its confections to the public, which included a plethora of free, exotic wares.

On Christmas Eve, the Port Townsend Fudge Co. will disappear, the “Brigadoon” of the candy world.

The shop distributed several hundred sample boxes at the tree lighting, which drew people into the small shop in the intervening weeks.

“We weren’t planning to open up until May but the reaction was so enthusiastic we decided to open for a few weeks,” said Tim Moyer, who owns and operates the store along with his wife, Harline Moyer.

The store at 922 Washington St. will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday, then close for the winter, to reopen in late April and May.

“This is a seasonal business,” Tim Moyer said.

“We will be open all through the summer and probably close after the Port Townsend Film Festival in September.

Visitors may not notice, but the locals who have seen businesses come and go throughout the years may be surprised by the “Established 1956” sign out front.

Moyer said the 1956 date is where the seeds of the business began, as it is the year of his birth.

Fudge figures in because it was that year when his grandparents baby-sat his older brothers and sisters and whipped together a “magic” fudge blend that contained Italian wine and Irish butter from their respective heritages,

When Moyer’s parents came home, they polished off the fudge and the result was a euphoric state and Moyer’s conception, he said.

How much of this is really true?

“Everything I say is true, but I’m Irish,” he said.

“You take a bite of that fudge and tell me if it’s magic or not.”

The “magic” fudge, a concoction of butter, chocolate, wine and ingredients that must not be named is available at the shop, along with a mixture of about 20 varieties at a time.

What’s available is controlled by whim and imagination, and there are very few food items that would not work in fudge, Moyer said.

The store plans a beer fudge created from local brews, to be available this spring.

How about kale or cucumber?

“Cucumber fudge would taste great,” he said.

“The sky’s the limit. The only kind of fudge we won’t make is bad fudge.”

Harline does the fudge preparation while Tim does promotion and management.

The couple travels throughout the year, spending the winter months in Hawaii where they run a farm that teaches sustainable practices and another fudge shop in Whittier, Alaska.

The couple isn’t forthcoming about how they met, got together or their age gap: Tim is 58 and Harline is 30.”

“When two souls been together throughout eternity, they just keep coming back together,” Tim said

How long have they been together in reality?

“Seems like forever,” he said.

The Moyers own the building where the shop is located and live upstairs,

During the closure, the shop may be rented to friends in order to display artwork, Tim Moyer said.

“This is the friendliest place. There are a lot of beautiful, eclectic, smart people,” Moyer said of Port Townsend.

“We’ve been here a few weeks and have gotten 500 friends on Facebook; in Alaska we have 300 and we’ve been there 10 years.”

________

Jefferson County Editor can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Janet Lucas, left, finds a special purchase of a “mail manager” at Swains early Friday morning. Black Friday shoppers descended on the Port Angeles store at 8 a.m. There were dozens of early risers who went looking for special bargains on one of the biggest shopping days of the year. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Black Friday

Janet Lucas, left, finds a special purchase of a “mail manager” at… Continue reading

Clallam adopts housing needs

Population projected at 86,700 by 2045

The Wall That Heals, a Vietnam War memorial, coming to Port Townsend

Opening ceremony to be held at Jefferson County airport on Sept. 11

Sherry Phillips, chair of the Festival of Trees design committee, stands next to the tree Twelve Days of Christmas, which she designed personally. (Leah Leach/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles woman shares joy of decorating trees

Sherry Phillips lends talent for all of festival’s 34 years

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Public hearings set on proposed 2025 budgets

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Serving up a Thanksgiving meal are, from left, Taylor Hale, Gina Landon, Shawn Lammers, Ryan Lammers, Sara Taylor and Jean Ball, all volunteers with Holiday Meals, located in the Tri-Area neighborhoods of Chimacum, Port Hadlock and Irondale. The group expected to serve up to 460 full Thanksgiving dinners with 287 being picked up, 118 delivered and 55 eaten at the Tri-Area Community Center. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Thanksgiving meals kick off holiday joy

Smiles, warmth light up Queen of Angels Catholic Church

From left, Gail Jangarrd, Bob Dunbar and Sammy Dionne treat a lucky dog to a biscuit made with organic, healthy and human-grade ingredients.
Gatheringplace to open public phase of capital campaign

Nonprofit to construct building for developmentally disabled

Port of Port Townsend on track to hit revenue goal

Agency receives eight bids on stormwater treatment project

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant Christmas balls and lighted trees on Wednesday for the opening ceremonies of the Festival of Trees. “White Christmas” was played by the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet and then sung by Amanda Bacon. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Festival of Trees opens

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant… Continue reading

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on Monday at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The helping hand is Margie Logerwell. More than three dozen trees will be available for viewing during the 34th annual Festival of Trees event this weekend. Tickets are available at www.omhf.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Finishing touches

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on… Continue reading

Grants to help Port Angeles port upgrades

Projects, equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Joseph Molotsky holds Jet, a Harris’s hawk. Jet, 14 or 15, has been at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue for about seven years. Jet used to hunt with a falconer and was brought to the rescue after sustaining injuries while attempting to escape an attack from a gray horned owl in Eastern Washington. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wild bird rescue to host open house

Officials to showcase expanded educational facilities