Around Town

With stocking stuffers aplenty, Fairlington Plaza candy shop sees ‘big week’ of business

By James Cullum
1/6

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Rocket Fizz, the soda pop and candy store in Fairlington Plaza.

Owner Tanya Kemp’s store at 1721 Centre Plaza is full of stocking stuffers, from vintage soda and candy, to tchotchkes and gag gifts like wind-up chattering teeth, Pez dispensers and bobbleheads. She told ALXnow that her shop does more business during the Christmas season than any other time of the year.

This is the store’s fifth holiday season, after Kemp first opened the franchise in 2021.

“We double our business in December when compared to other months,” Kemp said. “People love the Harry Potter chocolate wands or the Christmas coal bubble gum. This week — the week of Christmas — is our really big week.”

This week, Rocket Fizz is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday (Christmas Eve). The store will be closed on Christmas.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.