Jim and Melissa Hebert are the owners of The Candy Bar and Nobels, located on Main Street in downtown Carthage. As natives of Chicago and Texas, the Heberts met as students at Texas A&M University, lived and traveled internationally, and moved to Smith County in 2010. Both of their children graduated from Smith County High School and The University of Tennessee. The Hebert family selected Smith County as their home based upon the outdoor activities and scenery, as well as the ease of access to Nashville airport, as Melissa travels frequently for work.

The Heberts first opened The Candy Bar in 2016 in response to seeing their children’s teen friends struggle to find after school jobs and Carthage had very few businesses on Main Street at that time. The Heberts always wanted to encourage the sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit in their children and others. When the opportunity arose, they decided to open a fun, kid-friendly business that could employee teens. With the help of friend Tina Jenkins, they decided to sell novelty candy, ice cream, cotton candy, sno-cones, and candy arrangements. They also give out free treats on report card days to encourage local students.

A few years later, the Heberts had the opportunity to purchase the building that is now home to Nobels and began the long process of remodeling. The Heberts find the history of Smith County intriguing and decided to honor the historical significance of two Nobel Peace Prize winners with local ties by naming their restaurant Nobels. Cordell Hull was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 and Al Gore Jr was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, both of whom called Smith County home. Nobels’ décor pays homage to Smith County points of interest and heritage, from the farm tools on the walls to the artwork on the booths to some of the former businesses commemorated by menu items. Nobels was set to open around the time Covid hit, so the facility was used as a private venue starting in 2020 while the restaurant opening was delayed until 2023. Nobels strives to complement the other local restaurants with their selection of burgers/sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and healthy choices as reflected in their motto of “A little Italian, a little Mediterranean, all American.”