The Sweet Factory will be closing their doors at the end of September.
Nikki Krob, owner, said that the increasing costs have led to the decision.
“We’ve been dealing with the increased costs since the end of COVID-19, and it’s impacted the ability for the store to turn a profit,” Krob said. “Those additional costs hit our business before we get to things like payroll and utilities or rent, and it just became tighter and tighter margins to make the store work.”
Krob said she didn’t want to be closing the door to the chocolate and candy shop and she has appreciated the community support of Mount Vernon over the years.
“People would make it a habit to stop in the store and always check out our Facebook pages,” Krob said. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to things like the festivals, which were always some of our busiest days.”
Brittany Aldrich, the long time chocolatier for The Sweet Factory, will be continuing that business from her home in Springville moving forward relabeled as Big Creek Chocolates. A new website is currently under development, and her email is [email protected] or cell phone is 319-504-2945.
Krob said that much of the equipment for the chocolate shop have been sold to other businesses in other communities, and they will maintain being open until late September or they are out of inventory.
Hill of A Deal moving to
The Sweet
Factory locationWhere one business closes, however, another will be making a move.
Chris and Tara Comley, owners of Hill of a Deal and CRC Coin Crafts will be moving to The Sweet Factory’s location.
“We’re sad to see The Sweet Factory closing, but we’re excited to see our business moving to a more prominent location,” Tara said.
The duo will take ownership of The Sweet Factory space the beginning of October, and expects a week or two to set up in the new location.
“We know we’ll have a little more floor space in the new location, which is great, because we have been reaching our space limit in the location we’re at currently,” Chris said. “We’ve also had numerous people not know where we’re located, so we’re also excited about the increased foot traffic from being located so close to First Street.”
The duo said they expect the closure to set up new shelves and inventory will not take as much as opening down the hall, and are also excited to have the space set up just ahead of the holidays again this year.
One Hill of a Deal has been open in uptown Mount Vernon since 2021 this November.
The Sweet Factory closing, Hill of a Deal moving into space
August 31, 2023
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.