Such a Treat

By Lisa Arnett
July 2026 View more Discover

Score nostalgic finds, trendy sweets, and more at these candy shops

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop

301 W. Main St., St. Charles

Part of a national franchise, this candy shop in downtown St. Charles is celebrating its 11th year in business. The retro candies lining the shelves, though, give the impression it’s been here much longer. “If they still make it, odds are we have it—Clark Bars, Goo Goo Clusters, Maple Nut Goodies, Mallow Cups,” says Payton Bird, who started working part-time here during high school in 2018 and is now manager. “People love to come in and reminisce about their childhood and relive those memories.”

There’s also a robust buffet of Rocket Fizz–branded saltwater taffy. “We have over 90 flavors, from popular ones like banana, vanilla, and watermelon, to some crazy ones like pickle and buttered popcorn and maple bacon,” Bird says. The international section is stocked with imports from Asia—think Pocky, Jubes, and Hi-Chew—and Europe, including German chocolate, Turkish delights, and British candy bars such as Curly Wurly and Flake.

Good to know: As the shop’s name indicates, soda is also a big draw here. Browse more than 600 flavors of soda, as well as various trinkets, toys, and gag gifts—a callback to the company’s origins. “The creator of Rocket Fizz originally funded the store by selling fake prank poo,” he says.

MeMe’s Candy & Cards

4927 Main St., Downers Grove

When Nicholas Lynch opened this candy shop back in February, it was an natural fit to name it after his grandmother. “My MeMe was my mom’s mom…and she was my favorite person in the world growing up,” Lynch says. “We both had a love for the original 1970s Willy Wonka.” In her honor, Lynch has incorporated nods to the film inside the shop, including a replica of the lickable fruit wallpaper and the iconic half-bust hat stand.

Feast your eyes on glass jars of taffy and gummies and oversized treats such as massive lollipops, three-pound gummy bears, and footlong Sour Punch straws. “I have a nostalgic section with candy buttons, wax lips, rock candy,” he says. “One of the most popular is the candy cigarettes with the sugar powder that puffs out.” Lynch also carries specialty chocolates from Long Grove Confectionary. “That was my MeMe’s favorite, and I wanted to keep it local,” he says. “They make fantastic products and such a rich history of chocolate-making.”

Lynch loves that the business combines his favorite things—candy and talking to people—and hopes the shop will become a community hub. “When I was a kid, we had a Blockbuster in our neighborhood and that was the place to go for video games, cards, and candy,” Lynch says. “It’s hard to find a place like that now, and I love giving kids a place to come hang out in the afternoon.”

Good to know: With “Cards” in the shop name, Lynch originally intended to just sell Pokémon cards; however, he’s looking to start carrying birthday cards as well.

Naper Nuts and Sweets

10 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

“Truthfully, I never thought I would become a candy-shop owner,” says Dominique Martucci, who on July 10 is celebrating 25 years owning this downtown Naperville mainstay. “I saw an ad that it was for sale in the Naperville Sun, and at the time I was a single mom,” says Martucci, the shop’s third owner since it opened in 1983. “I used to come in here with my sons, and I thought: What a great way to build a life for me and my family.”

After her predecessor suggested she add caramel corn to the offerings, Martucci perfected her own recipe. “Now we make it seven days a week and we just can’t keep up,” she says. Gummies are also a top seller. “Right now the hottest ones are these Swedish gummies that we cannot keep in stock,” she says. “We also have these 3D gummies that look like Lego blocks, cupcakes, and gems.” The store also sells roasted nuts, fudge, chocolates, novelty candies, and gift baskets. “Life is so hard, and I want you to walk in and have that moment of happiness, even if it’s just a couple minutes when you’re here.”

Good to know: In 2003, Martucci launched Operation: Caramel Corn, an initiative to ship bags of caramel corn to American troops serving overseas. “A simple sweet can bring so much comfort and connection to home for them,” she says. “I know it’s just caramel corn, but it represents our support for them, our admiration for them, and our thankfulness.”

Photos: Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop; MeMe’s Candy & Cards; Naper Nuts and Sweets