IQALUIT - Michael Murphy is about to start a sweet job.

The Ireland-born Iqaluit security agent plans to open a chocolate store in the lobby of The Navigator Inn later this month.

Michael Murphy, owner of Granny's Garnished Chocolate and Confectionery, flips through a catalogue he uses to order the chocolate he will offer at his store, which will open later this month. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photo

"It's going to be called Granny's Garnished Chocolate and Confectionery," said the 61-year-old Murphy, who has lived up North for 35 years, most of them spent in Pangnirtung, where he ran a restaurant named Granny's Kitchen.

He has also managed co-op stores in Resolute, Hall Beach and Rankin Inlet.

Before he relocated to Iqaluit two years ago, Murphy often stopped in the capital city on his way back to Pangnirtung.

"There used to be a candy store in Iqaluit a long, long time ago," he said. "It was (run by) a gentleman named Claude Deneault - the Lord have mercy on his soul ... up close by Arctic Ventures.

"He was quite successful and did very well. It ran for many years until he passed away."

Conversations with fellow townspeople convinced Murphy that a store like that was needed again.

"I do my own sourcing out and chatting with people ... and a lot of people in town, of my age group, remember Claude and say, 'Yeah. It would be nice to see something like that again.'"

The shelving units for the store - where 140 different items will be on offer, most notably sugar-free and dark chocolate - were due to be installed late last week.

"The chocolate will be prepackaged ... and flown in (from Ottawa) and put on the shelves immediately," said Murphy. "I'd like to think that in 10 days or two weeks we'll be up and going."

Murphy will work at the store himself for the first four to six months and may seek help based on the volume of business he drums up.

Penny Ford, general manager of the inn, said Murphy doesn't need to worry.

"I think he's going to do really well," said Ford. "I wish I'd though of it.

"It's going to be better for our customers because most people are too lazy to walk across the street (to Baffin Gas Bar). Not lazy, but it's more convenient to come out of your room and buy pop, cigarettes, candy, whatever."

With an additional supply of candy in the city, is she worried that kids will find another excuse to loiter around her hotel?

"I'm hoping that's not what's going to happen, but it is a candy store," said Ford.

Then again, Murphy works security at her hotel.

"He's only going to allow in two kids at a time, so it will be really monitored," she said.

For Murphy, the new store offers him an opportunity to interact with customers in a business of his own making.

"Many of our customers (at the hotel) are from out of the town, the communities," he said. "So I look forward to being able to tap into their needs as well - the people from the communities being able to go home and bring back something different."