Bonnie Reding

Gina Wilkinson used to save up her allowance and go to the confectionary on Main Street in Glen Carbon after school. Even though time has passed, those sweet treats still hold a place in her heart. Three and a half years ago Gina's husband Jamie, a builder and developer, built the Miner's Square building, and Gina's first thought was to bring a confectionary back to Glen Carbon. She wanted to make some sweet memories for a whole new generation.

"It was part of [Jamie's[ dream to revitalize old town Glen Carbon so he put up this magnificent building with the intention of getting people to lease here," Wilkinson said. "[Jamie's] sister Jill had a background in the candy industry and I was looking for a career change, so I kind of just went out on a limb and took the leap into running the candy store with Jill's help."

Before opening Sweeties, Wilkinson had worked with her husband in the construction industry. She said her construction experience has helped her in running the candy business. She already was familiar with accounting software and had the managerial skills required to run a business, so she was able to focus on learning the candy trade.

"I have always cooked and baked and made candy," she said. "Pretty much if there is a recipe, I can read it and make it. I improvise a lot when I am cooking at home, I do have a large family and I have been cooking a long time."

Being surrounded by yummy treats all day is enough to challenge anyone's willpower. Wilkinson said it isn't too difficult for her, but she tries to keep her favorites, the chocolate covered nuts and pretzels, out of her line of sight.

Ironically, Wilkinson is also a licensed dental hygienist. She has a sign on her kid's candy cart reminding kids to brush and floss. She wants them to enjoy their treats, but she also wants them to have healthy teeth.

"I often remind kids when they come in, 'use a fluoride rinse and be sure you floss tonight and brush really well because that is really bad for your teeth.' They usually look at me like I am from outer space. They probably go home and say, 'Mom that scary lady in the candy store told me I have to brush!!!'" she joked.

Wilkinson said the best thing about her job is interacting with her customers. She loves getting to know people in the community and finding out their favorite treats. She said she has quite a few regular customers that she loves, but some of her favorite customers are a group she has nicknamed the sandlot boys.

"My sandlot boys are a group of kids that started coming here when we first opened," Wilkinson said. "I have gotten to watch them grow up a bit, they are great kids. They ride their bikes up here and they have just become really nice people."

Wilkinson's dedication to her customers shows in her store. She decides what to carry in her store based on customer request, and if there is something special you want, she will find a way to get it to you. They make about half of their chocolate products right in the store, which can be a tricky proposition during our sweltering summers.

"We have to keep it at a constant 67 degrees in here, because if it gets up over 70, everything will start to stick. The chocolate will start to get fingerprints on it and the chocolate won't set up fast enough. Temperature and humidity are huge factors. We can't make peanut brittle if it is humid or raining, sometimes you can't make fudge if it is raining. We just have to be super careful with temp and humidity," she said.

Rain or shine, Sweeties will have your sweet tooth buzzing. Whether you are looking for cappuccino flavored truffles, chocolate covered graham crackers or a blast from the past like Zotz or pop rocks, Sweeties is great place for a sweet treat. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Wilkinson said they will be featuring all kinds of things for kids, teachers and your valentine.

"Chocolate covered strawberries are very popular," she said. "We are taking advanced orders for them. We don't want any strawberries to leave here that have been dipped more than 3-6 hours in advance. They are very perishable and we want them as fresh as possible when they leave here. We want the best product for our customers."

In Sweeties you will find high-end, hand crafted chocolates, old-fashioned candy, a huge variety of Jelly Belly beans, gourmet coffees and teas. They can also make custom gift baskets or put together a fun candy buffet for weddings or parties. Each piece sold in Sweeties is of the highest quality and has to meet a high standard, or Wilkinson won't let it through the door.

"We are careful and picky about what we have in our store," Wilkinson said. "We do quality control, which is a really fun part of my job, and we taste everything before we buy it. If something is substandard we won't buy it, no matter how popular it is. We are very particular about what we have in our store."

Sweeties is thriving, because for Wilkinson, it is all about making the customer happy. She finds top-notch products and caters to customer's wants.

"We're doing really well; we are growing every year despite the recession. We have continued to grow double digits. I am really happy with the way things are working out for us. Locally, people know what Sweeties is and they get excited when they see a Sweeties box or bag. They say 'Ooh this is going to be good, it came from Sweeties,'" Wilkinson said.

Sweeties Confections can be found in the Miner's Square building at 123 Glen Crossing Road in Glen Carbon, 618-288-7650 or www.sweetiesconfections.com.