Customers flock to Cupid Candies for final weekend
Oak Lawn store closes its doors after 64 years
Cupid Candies, a longtime Oak Lawn candy store, closed its doors Sunday.
The store was part of the community for 64 years and on its last day the little store was packed—sometimes with a line snaking outside and into the parking lot—as generations of fans stopped in for a malt, caramelized apple, dipped ice cream or candy.
“I’m devastated,” said Tom Sullivan. “I would come here with my grandparents after softball and baseball games every Sunday. So, it’s sad.
“Plus, my mom and my sister had their first jobs here.”
Rick Balciatis, the store’s outside sales representative and a 24-year employee, said the deci
sion toclosewas hardonemployeesandfor owner John Stefanos.
“It’s a sad day as we’ve been a staple in Oak Lawn” Balciatis said.
He said day-to-day sales had been slowing due to increasing competition, and said Stefanos realized itwas time to sell for a number of reasons.
“I knowhe’s sad about it closing.”
The Stefanos family began making candy in 1936.
Customers shared fond memories of their years visiting Cupid Candies as they waited in line, but the mood was bittersweet as many expressed disappointment that they’d no longer get their favorite dessert in Oak Lawn.
With inside seating closed off due to COVID-19, families took their malts and sundaes outside or ate in their cars.
Formany in the community, family trips to Cupid Candieswere a tradition.
“I’ve been takingmy kids here since they were little,” said KathyWickert. She added that her children are now 40, 34 and 35. Her go-to treat is a chocolate chip milkshake with vanilla syrup while her kids were partial to sundaes.
The store was something of a career for many employees whowould often stay put once hired. Behind the counter, Pat Sollis
and Guadalupe Rivera served customers and both women had worked there for decades.
Regularswould get to knowthe employees aswell as the products.
“I would always stop in for a shake, and my friend Janice Price worked there for many years,” saidWickert.
Pat Toomey had a similar story. She said she’s been going to the store for at least 23 years—since shemoved to the area.
“I’ve brought kids, grandkids and great
grandkids here,” she said. She said her favorite dessert is a chocolate malt.
Fans of the Cupid Candies do have some good news though. Balciatis said the factory aswell as the Orland Park store are still open. The factory is under new managementasStephanieHart bought it in June. Hart owns Brown Sugar Bakery.
Toomey said she planned to make the dozen mile trip to keep getting her malts.