Aside from Halloween, Easter is one of the biggest candy selling periods of the entire year. Chocolate and candy sales this Easter season will surpass $5 billion, according to the National Confectioners Association.
“It’s very busy, lots of people, lots of traffic coming in,” said Kristine Collins, Co-owner of Dan’s Homemade Candies.
For over 100 years, Dan’s Homemade Candies has created chocolate masterpieces. The small shop remains the second longest running business in Joliet.
“We have a picture of Dan on the wall to remind us of the beginning of all of this,” said Collins.
After having three previous owners, Dan’s is now currently owned and operated by the Nelson family in Joliet. Collins and her sister, Karen Nolan, run the business following in their parents footsteps.
“It’s nice to have traditions and people we’ve gotten to know over the years,” said Collins.
Staff at the shop still use the original chocolate molds as well as the spatula and pot Dan had in 1919. Collins said that’s the secret behind their specialty chocolate eggs — and why customers across the country order them during the Easter season.
“I always get excited thinking I’m continuing traditions since 1919,” said Collins.“I know Dan has got to be proud of us.”
Easter is one of the shop’s biggest holidays. From chocolate rabbits to giant chocolate egg pinatas, the staff at Dan’s continues to create the original classics while innovating for the future.
“I think that’d be awesome in 100 years from now if I could look down on this store and see my photo on the wall and see that everyone is still using the techniques that I helped continue on,” said Collins.
Dan’s Homemade Candies has two Joliet locations. You can learn more about the shop by visiting their website: www.danshomemadecandies.com