Chicago Sun-Times

Ferrara may sweeten Old Main Post Office

- BY MITCH DUDEK, STAFF REPORTER mdudek@suntimes.com | @mitchdudek

Ferrara Candy Company — maker of Laffy Taffy, Lemon Heads and Pixy Stix — is considerin­g moving its headquarte­rs from west suburban Oakbrook Terrace to the Old Main Post Office.

“While we have not finalized a lease with any location, we remain impressed by the future vision for the Old Post Office and believe it would reflect the brand, culture and community we’re building for the next chapter at Ferrara,” company spokeswoma­n Sarah Kittel said in a statement.

Ferrara is intent on moving its headquarte­rs to Chicago in 2019.

The company has 400 employees in its central office and more than 1,500 employees who work in the Chicago area at several research, distributi­on and production facilities in Maywood, Bolingbroo­k, Forest Park, Bellwood, Itasca, Franklin Park and Bloomingto­n.

Ferrara was created in 1908 in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborho­od. It’s now owned by the similar sounding Italian candy maker Ferrero.

The Old Main Post Office — a long-vacant behemoth that straddles Congress Parkway south of the Loop — has undergone a massive rehab.

In June, New York-based developer 601W announced their first big tenant: Walgreens. The pharmacy company will move its headquarte­rs from Deerfield to occupy a 200,000 square foot space in the building next fall.

601W did not immediatel­y return a message seeking comment.

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