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The Ozarks have an air of mystery all on their own. Hidden hollows, rugged hills, and old towns give this part of Arkansas a sense of the unknown. Tales of swamp monsters, shadowy trails, and misty moonlit nights have long sparked curiosity here. But this Oct., Gravette becomes the place where a local business captures that same spooky charm and turns it into a memorable Halloween event, mixing sweet nostalgia with spine-tingling fun.
Welcome to Can-Do Hardware, the candy store by day and haunted movie set by night that has become the Halloween destination in the Ozarks.
Candy Dreams by Day
When you first step into Can-Do Hardware, you’re greeted with a wave of nostalgia. The squeak of old wooden floors, rows of reused wooden barrels filled with brightly wrapped candies and the hum of families marveling over sweets that seem pulled straight from the past. Transformed into a whimsical wonderland, this historic hardware store is part candy shop, part toy store and part film set.
This isn’t your typical quick stop for a soda. Families can explore aisles filled with nostalgic favorites and imported treats, where each display brings back a memory. Maybe it’s the candy your grandmother used to buy you after church or the soda you shared at the skating rink. Candy and soda pop seem to be universal connectors, among the few things today that rarely cause division.
“Candy rarely separates anyone,” shared store manager Michael with a grin, in his vintage midway blazer and handlebar mustache. “Except maybe over licorice.”
The shelves at Can-Do Hardware are stocked with everything from Taylor Swift’s favorite Squashies and the rare Dubai chocolates to the store’s own brand of sodas with fun flavors like Blue Razz and Vanilla Cream. Grandparents will love finding their favorites like an Oh Henry bar, a Clark Bar or Bit ‘O Honey or that baseball favorite, Bazooka bubble gum!
Parents and grandparents love sharing stories of penny candy and soda jerks from their childhood as children run around with their sweet treats. Families often combine their candy trip with a visit to nearby Old City Park or Kindley Park, just a short walk from downtown Gravette. Or, they go to the Sugar Shack in Centennial Park for a food truck lunch that everyone enjoys!
For some, the nostalgia runs even deeper. One visitor shared that her grandfather was a candy salesman before enlisting in World War II and standing in Can-Do Hardware gave her a glimpse of that history brought to life.
Discover more ways to explore Gravette during your visit!
Creepy by Night
But when the sun sets over Gravette, Can-Do Hardware takes on a whole new look. As evening falls, the candy crew transforms an abandoned warehouse into Midnight Movies, a haunted house experience that mimics a full-scale movie production.
Joey, the Can-Do owner and self-proclaimed ‘kid of the 90s,’ has always loved the creative magic of movies. Every Oct. , he channels that passion into a new haunted concept that combines cinematic storytelling with immersive set design. What started as a fun Halloween project in 2020 has now grown into a full-scale, film-inspired fright night with three terrifying storylines that feel straight out of Hollywood.
“Midnight Movies isn’t just a haunted house – it’s a love letter to low-budget and VHS-era nightmares. Flickering lights. Peeling posters. Popcorn-stained carpet.”
Guests don’t have to pick their own nightmare; they get to experience all three!
- Slasher Scissor Happy – An 80s-style slasher flick full of flashing lights, campy horror, and a few jump scares you’ll never forget.
- Cannery Carnage – A fog-filled 70s thriller set in a factory gone wrong, where eerie sounds and strange shadows keep you guessing.
- Creature Feature – A 1950s-style sci-fi adventure, complete with mutant monsters and glowing green lights that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a vintage drive-in movie.
Each 10-minute walkthrough features handcrafted sets, realistic sound design and a level of detail that could easily match a professional movie production. Tickets range from $24.99 for standard entry to $35 for express passes. You can find details and purchase tickets online, starting your journey at candohardware.com.
“We want people to feel like they’re walking right into a movie,” Michael says. “It’s spooky, but it’s also about storytelling and creativity. Even if you don’t love horror, you’ll love the craftsmanship.”
The Magic Between Candy and Creepy
The unique magic of Can-Do Hardware lies in its capacity to unite people—families, film enthusiasts, thrill-seekers and nostalgic senior souls alike. During the day, children giggle while picking their favorite sweets and shopping for vintage and movie-themed toys; at night, teens and adults line up for the adrenaline of a movie-set haunted house.
And in between? You’ll find the heart of what Joey and his team have built—a hardware store with a heart.
Whether you’re chasing goosebumps or just a sugar high, Can-Do Hardware presents the ultimate Ozarks Halloween mashup: nostalgia wrapped in candy with a splash of cinematic fright.
Plan Your Visit
Can-Do Hardware Candy Shop
303 3rd Avenue SE | Gravette
Open daily, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday, Noon – 5 p.m.
candohardware.com
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Midnight Movies Haunted House
Open Fridays and Saturdays in Oct. through Nov. 1| 6 p.m. – midnight
Purchase Tickets
Learn more about Haunted House experiences in Arkansas.
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