Remember jawbreakers, licorice sticks and all the other sweets in the penny candy store of years past? Sisters Maureen Sivia and Kaye Brisbois have recreated that atmosphere in their store in a Waukegan neighborhood near two schools-only kids today have to fork out at least a nickel and are more apt to choose Tongue Splashers that turn their mouths wild colors when they chew them.
The tiny store, just down the block from where Sivia and Brisbois grew up, is filled with eye-catching, mouth-watering confections: 30 jars of jelly beans of various colors; big chocolate-covered pretzel sticks; yellow, pink and white confectioner’s sugar rosebuds in edible chocolate pots, individually wrapped and selling for $2 each. Recently ice cream treats were added.
Although The Candy Shop is crowded every day after school when it’s in session and there is a fair amount of other walk-in trade, the bulk of the business is custom orders and deliveries, said Sivia, who manages the store in the daytime while her sister teaches at Immaculate Conception School in Waukegan.
For example, they recently delivered an order of 350 chocolate roses for a wedding. Each guest received one bearing the name of the bride and groom and the date. The sisters, who bought the store in February, have a chocolate supplier who molds candy in any shape desired: golf balls for Father’s Day; ballet slippers for dance recitals; large house keys, which can be given as appreciation gifts by real estate agents to clients.
“We plan to aggressively go after corporate business, marketing things like that,” Sivia said. A speciality of the store is custom arrangements in baskets, pots or any container a customer brings in. Sivia displayed a clay pot with two large pink and white chocolate roses on sticks nestled in jelly beans and bordered with Dutch mints for $6.95.
Another arrangement, with silk flowers in a bed of imported chocolates and almonds, sells for $8.50.
“We can do things with balloons and candy. We can special order things like Jordan almonds in colors to match a wedding. We also carry sugar-free chocolates,” Sivia said. The shop will deliver custom orders of $10 or more.
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The Candy Shop, 910 Glen Flora Ave., Waukegan, is open 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and on Sundays before holidays. Phone 708-263-3866.
