Mokena Gets a Shot of Sugar

Wolf Road got a little sweeter one week ago Thursday when The Sweet Company, the newest establishment to grace Mokena's downtown storefronts, opened for business.

The shop, located in one of Mokena's newer, mixed-use buildings, blends coffee-shop comforts with old-fashioned candy and popcorn purveyance.

"It's something people can sit down and enjoy," said Jeffrey Matson, one of The Sweet Company's owners.

Inside, free wireless Internet, a TV and a sofa of soft brown leather as rich as the fudge itself create something of a yuppified, Starbucks-ian atmosphere at one end. On the other end, brickwork columns, wood floors and glass confectionery cases begs nostalgia for the kind of candy store Charlie Bucket might patronize should fate chance to throw an extra coin at his feet.

The shop specializes in homemade gourmet popcorn and fudge in flavors such as “Blueberry Cheesecake,” and “Chewy Praline.” Meanwhile, jars of jawbreakers the size of softballs (giving new meaning to the word "everlasting") and 2-foot-long gummy rattlesnakes crowd the register space.

But it doesn't end there, either.

The Sweet Company also boasts an ice cream counter, a fruit smoothie menu and bulk candy. Surrounded by all of the sweets and uplifting “getaway,” ambiance, patrons can't help but feel their spirits lift at least a few degrees north.

These touches, Matson said, are intended to “give you the 'vacation' feel.” Matson said he modeled the shop's plan on candy venues he's familiar with near his family's vacation home in Michigan. 

Matson and partners John Hranicka and Carl DeVries decided they wanted to open a business just a few months ago. The three Mokena men all coach baseball together for the Lincoln-Way Blue Demons, and the idea for The Sweet Company was conceived while readying baseball fields during downtime.

“We probably started talking about this in August,” Matson said. “We started doing the work the week of Thanksgiving.”

Family helped a lot with construction in the space at 19806 S. Wolf. “We did all the labor in here and that saved us a lot of money,” Matson said.

Jenny Hranicka, John's wife, is one of those family members. She said she is still a little stunned by the pace with which the business went from concept to concrete, stocked and open. Currently, the owners and their families are trying to alternate shifts at the store among themselves and work around regular, full-time jobs and kids. But she's very happy for her husband.

“I was excited because I know he's wanted to do this for a while," she said. "It's kind of a dream."

While work schedules and shift lengths may be a thing to be worked out as the business matures, the owners' vision for its future in Mokena is already beginning to solidify.

The owners also hope to soon host kids' parties in the space, too.

The store also sells containers of dried fruit and spices and boxed candy. Currently, a bastion of Valentine's Day selections like chocolate roses, lips and hearts are displayed in one corner. Jenny Hranicka, who expected to work a 10 to 12 hour shift on Friday, said that she hasn't gotten any candy for Valentine's Day in recent years.

“It's been a long time, but I better get them this year!” she said.

The Sweet Company is located at 19806 S. Wolf Rd., Mokena. Call 708-479-5858 for more information.