There is no shortage of places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Oak Park and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking for retro candy bars, fruity or sour candy or decadent chocolates, these shops will provide plenty of tempting opportunities to feel like a kid in one of the best candy stores, no matter what your age.
Who knew there are so many kinds of fudge? You’ll find them all at this store that has been part of the Riverside community for more than four decades. Choose house-made caramel apples, ice cream or popcorn. Also look for bulk and by-the-piece candy: from hard candy to lollipops to saltwater taffy. The shop is decked out for every holiday and sells stunning, handcrafted seasonal sweets, including Easter treats, high-heeled chocolate pumps for Mother’s Day, and chocolate Christmas trees. Aunt Diana’s is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7 pm, Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.
Candycopia is ready to bring a new kind of sweet shop experience to Oak Park. The store, owned by Oak Park parents Alycia and Patrick Mason, stocks more than 100 types of gummies, bulk candies, and unique candy made by diverse-owned, eco-conscious, and small-batch companies. Diehard candy fans can saddle up to a Candy Bar for candy-forward ice cream concoctions and candy “flights,” as well as store-made toffee, caramels, truffles and fudge. Check the website for opening days and hours.
While this company that’s been making iconic sweets in the Chicago area since 1908 is busy as ever – the factory cranks out 2 million of its iconic Lemonheads a day – public tours are no longer offered. But you can still take a trip down memory lane by visiting the adjacent outlet store to stock up on the pucker-inducing sweets, plus other long-standing best sellers like Boston Baked Beans, Red Hots, Nerds, Fun Dip and Pixy Stix. Ferrara Pan is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, and Saturdays from 7:30 am - 2:30 pm.
Annette Pardun makes small-batch candies and packages them in beautiful Mason jars, baskets, and boxes that provide an extra dose of sweetness to her sought-after goodies. Selections include English toffee, hand-cut caramels, and a selection of handcrafted specialty barks in flavors such as dark chocolate mole, coffee crunch, and cherry amaretto almond. The store offers special seasonal treats, and the shop can create custom orders for events and corporate gifts that include a sampling of several of the sophisticated, eye-catching treats. Fill My Jar is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
This Forest Park shop has been a must-visit for sophisticated the sweet-toothed since 1921, when the Frederick Steger family introduced its old-world recipes to the community. La Maison De Bonbon specializes in small-batch orders of its signature Original French Crèmes, plus other decadent salted caramels. The store is open Tuesday through Thursday from 12 noon to 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10pm, Sundays from noon to 8 pm, and Mondays from noon to 5 pm.
Lillet first opened in Chicago in 1949, then moved to Broadview and Brookfield before landing in La Grange in 2000, and its current downtown location in 2010. The well-known pink-and-green striped awning beckons sweets lovers to taste a free sample of its famous English toffee and try other treats, including fudge balls, pecan patties, nonpareils, and caramel apples. Lillet is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:30 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays from 10:30 am to 3 pm.
The long-standing La Grange corner penny candy store Hank’s was reopened as My Grampa's Store in the 1990s, and has been selling candy, chocolate bars, custom cakes and cookies, ice cream, slushies, and deli items ever since. Open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm, and Sundays by appointment.
Founded in 1969, this family-run Berwyn store has something for every kind of sweets lover. There’s retro penny candy like Astro Pops, Atomic Fireballs, and wax lips that are sold by the piece; bulk candy sold such as jellybeans, gummy bears, and licorice sold by the bagful; and store-made chocolates including turtles, peanut butter cups and truffles. There are also snacks such as popcorn and chocolate-covered pretzels, and molds and supplies to make your own candy at home. Old Fashioned Candies also makes party favors and corporate gifts and is the go-to spot for themed sweets for every occasion, from Teacher Appreciation Day to Christmas. It’s open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.
Sweet dreams come to life at this charming shop that’s been satisfying candy cravings since 2011. Known for its signature English toffee and caramels, River Forest Chocolates has no shortage of other tempting confections, from dark to milk chocolate, sophisticated truffles and buttercreams, plus hand-dipped ice cream bars, caramel apples, smash cakes, and even vegan chocolates. River Forest Chocolates makes favors, corporate and personal gifts, and will gladly help with custom events. The store is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Alex Hardin opened this Maywood shop to recreate the feeling of the candy stores he grew up visiting in Chicago. Sugar Dealers sells all kinds of candy, plus Snowballs and even meals ranging from nachos to Italian beef. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 10 pm.