Tracy Gunn is no stranger to difficulties in business. She started her candy store — Life Is Sweet — in downtown Keene 14 years ago. But for the past four years business has steadily declined, about 10% per year, something Gunn attributes to the Keene riots.

“Our tourism kind of has dried up,” Gunn said.

The pandemic was another blow. The main draw at Life Is Sweet is the old fashioned candy counter. People come in, don a glove, and put their hands into jars of candy, selecting the exact type and amount to satisfy their sweet tooth. Gunn estimates that under normal circumstances, 90% of customers who visit Life Is Sweet make an individualized bag of candy.