The iconic Cupid Candies shop in Oak Lawn, a landmark on Chicago’s Southern Side, will shut after 64 wonderful years on Sunday, Sept. 27.

By Lorraine Swanson , Patch Staff

OAK LAWN, IL — Say it ain’t therefore! Cupid sweets will shut after 64 years on 95th Street in Oak Lawn. One of many final associated with iconic old-line candy shops regarding the Southern Side, Cupid Candies, 4709 95th St., will shut its doorways on Sunday.

Cupid Candies had been established in 1936 because of the Paul that is late Stefanos. Their bro, Leo, would carry on to invent the Dove bar. The very first shop ended up being at 79th Street and Ashland Avenue in the Southern Side, where just fudge, toffee and popcorn had been offered. By 1940, Paul and their spouse, Pauline, exposed another shop at 3207 W. 63rd St., along side a little manufacturing facility, based on the organization’s internet site.

Your family proceeded to cultivate Cupid Candies, relocating 1943 to 3143 W. St that is 63rd Chicago.

The business expanded once more in 1956 having a new plant at 7637 S. Western Ave., in which the candy factory nevertheless runs today.

The family-owned and operated Cupid Candies produced quality chocolates, pea nuts, sweets and frozen dessert from the factory on Western Avenue in Gresham. The belated creator’s son, John Stefanos, may be the business president.

Visiting the Oak Lawn shop on Thursday afternoon, the racks remained well stocked with the hand-dipped, vintage candy lines, such as for instance Turks — sharp pecans and soft caramel clusters dipped in milk chocolate — so called since the name Turtles had been trademarked, and cream and butter fudge made daily. It absolutely was hardly the “everything must get” liquidation scavenging we have grown familiar with.

Each with its own distinctive swirl on the top under glass were rows of chocolate creams of all varieties, chewy centers, nut clusters and confections. In the ice cream parlor, a worker had been starting bins of big, red strawberries.

Since 1956, the Oak Lawn Cupid Candies — using its antique frozen dessert parlor and soda water fountain — had been for which you stopped by to choose a box up seniorblackpeoplemeet com login of Turks to bring to your North Side family relations on Christmas, or enjoyed a sundae and a malted after a film in the Coral Theatre.

The Orland Park shop, at 9420 W. 143rd St., will continue to be available, since will the Cupid sweets factory on Western Avenue into the Southern Side Gresham neighbor hood.

Stephanie Hart, the dog owner and discovered of Brown glucose Bakery in Chicago, bought out of the historic 84-year-old candy factory on Western Avenue in June. Her Brown glucose bakery is just a destination that is popular black colored meals culture into the city.

Hearing that John Stefanos ended up being shopping for a buyer, Hart bought the candies that are cupid for $500,000, utilizing a grant she received through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic chance, BlackBusiness com reported.

Hart additionally acquired the legal rights to Cupid Candies’ brand and items. Plans are to mix the 2 brands together.

Based on BlackBusiness com, the 20-plus workers regarding the candy business will always be on to make most of the ice cream and chocolate items of Cupid sweets and cakes of Brown glucose Bakery.

But not because cool as relaxing across the soda water water fountain on a hot summer time afternoon, fans will nevertheless be in a position to purchase a common Cupid Candies online. The Cupid sweets tradition will stay along with their secret that is original family, designed to use just the best, premium ingredients.

Should you want to have sundae for lunch or grab that Christmas time field of Turks, Cupid Candies may be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 to Sept. 27.

MODIFICATION: the organization reached away to Patch to allow us understand that the Orland Park shop at 9420 W. 143rd St. will stay available. Nice thing about it.