Toots’ owner to retire after 17 years. What’s next for the Belleville baking supply shop?
The torch is being passed … again.
Toots’ Cake & Candy Supply, located at 314 E. Main St. in Belleville, will have a new owner beginning Jan. 1 with the retirement after 17 years of current owner Ann Davis.
To welcome Alana Shelley, 26, as the new owner and to celebrate Davis’ retirement, an open house event will be held at Toots’ from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.
Shelley is excited and said that taking over the business was something she wanted for a long time.
“When I worked at the old shop (at 1915 North Belt East in Belleville) I wanted to take over Toots’,” said Shelley, adding that Davis didn’t know that at the time.
Shelley’s first stint at Toots’ started when she was a young teenager, barely old enough to even have a job.
Davis, who knew Shelley since she was a young kid, called her over and asked if she wanted to work with her.
“She screamed at me from the street,” Shelley said.
Shelley agreed, saying that she was the first in her group of friends to have a job and thought it was cool.
She stayed for seven years before joining the Air National Guard in 2016. She left for boot camp in 2017 and left the service in October.
She “found her way back home,” said Davis.
Davis said multiple people were interested in taking over Toots’, including Shelley.
Shelley was afraid to “put that bug in (Davis’) ear,” fearing that Davis would think she’s too young. But with much experience with the business already under her belt, she’s confident that she’s ready for ownership.
“All the product I’m good with,” said Shelley, who admitted that she still has a lot to learn on the business side, like keeping the books balanced and learning how to budget.
As for how the shop is run, “I’m keeping things the same right now,” said Shelley.
But she has plans for the shop.
“She talked about bringing in new lines of product,” said Davis.
Cookie decorating, basic buttercream, and candy-making classes as well as kids camps will start in February.
All classes are decorating-oriented, according to Davis, because the shop is not set up for baking.
Building up their online presence to include online shopping is also on Shelley’s mind. She recognizes that a lot of people — younger customers especially — like doing things online, including shopping.
Shelley also said that future involvement in more downtown committees and events is also part of her plan.
She will be the third owner of the go-to shop for bakers and candy makers.
When Toots retired
Davis became Toots’ second owner on Jan. 1, 2005, when the original Toots, Margaret “Toots” Schilling, retired. Davis’ history with Toots’ began when she was 18 and started decorating cakes.
She was “just a customer,” but as time passed, “I just got to know (Margaret),” said Davis.
She added that Schilling always remembered Davis and her family by name.
In 2003 when Schilling wanted to retire, Davis said she went to Schilling and said she was interested in buying the shop.
Done and done.
Eventually.
“I had to tell her another lady made an offer,” said Schilling in a February 2005 interview with the News-Democrat.
Months later that deal fell through.
Davis said she worked evenings and weekends with Schilling and her husband Bob for a year to learn the business before coming to an agreement to take over the business.
In 2015, Davis moved Toots’ to its current downtown location at 314 E. Main St.
Toots’ beginnings
Toots’ first opened in 1975 when Schilling bought Nova-Rae Cake Craft at 1801 North Belt East in Belleville.
A grand opening was held in July of that year, according to a July 7, 1975, local flash listing in the News-Democrat. By February 1978, the business had moved to 1915 North Belt East, just down the street from the original site.
Schilling told the News-Democrat in a 1996 interview that she got into cake decorating by taking classes at Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College). She later taught these same classes.
“I just did it because I wanted to know how to make birthday cakes for my family. I’ve always loved to bake,” Schilling said at the time.
She retired Dec. 31, 2004. For a while after retiring, she could still be found at the shop, helping in the afternoons.
Schilling died n July 2019.
‘Our customers are lovely’
Davis is glad to know that Toots’ will continue to help people celebrate important events in their lives.
“Our customers are lovely … they’re all here for a joyous occasion” and will often share photos from their events later, said Davis.
She hopes the customers will continue to do so.
Shelley said that people can meet Davis once and remember her forever.
“It’s gonna be hard to fill her shoes, for sure.”
About Toots’ Cake & Candy Supply
Toots’ Cake & Candy Supply is located at 314 E. Main St. in downtown Belleville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 618-277-7373, visit tootscakecandysupply.com or check out the Facebook page.
