NAICS Code 445

Location 101 N. College Ave, Aledo, IL 61231

Nearby Businesses Pharmacy, various retail shops, antique shop, card shop

Owner/Manager John Kessinger

Special Store Activities Yearly baby crawl and Little Miss Christmas competition

Year Opened 2004

Website n/a

Phone 309-582-0838

E-mail mccc@frontiernet.net

Community Profile Aledo is a small Western Illinois town of 3,600 people, 180 miles west of Chicago and 35 miles south of the Quad Cities. Visitors to Aledo can enjoy the benefits of the Quad Cities and the many historic and scenic sites Western Illinois has to offer—such as the Great River Road and the Black Hawk state historic site—while remaining in a small, rural atmosphere. The business community of Aledo is dominated by specialty shops, antique stores and cafes.

Products Sold & Niche Developed

Maple City Candy Company offers a fun and expansive shopping experience for their customers. They sell old-fashioned candy and hand-dipped ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth, and are in the process of adding a full-scale restaurant. In addition, a Maple City shopper can find a variety of gift merchandise, including their popular willow tree figurines, and other unique items not found in a big-box store, ranging from home décor to floral arrangements. Along with their one-of-a-kind merchandise, Maple City Candy Co. also has an innovative business philosophy. Their main goal is to entertain the customer, not simply sell them something. They do this by providing unique and interesting merchandise displays and a distinctive set-up—shoppers can browse the merchandise room to room in a renovated hotel. This makes their store truly unique.

Market Segments Served

The vast range of items and services found at Maple City draws customers from all walks of life, ranging from children to seniors. Because the store is relatively new, the customer base for Maple City Candy Co. remains primarily local, including people from Aledo and the surrounding area. Nevertheless, the one-of-a-kind nature of the store is sure to make Maple City, and Aledo, a destination point for tourists from the Quad Cities and beyond.

Contributions to the Business Community

Maple City Candy Company helps the Aledo economy by employing up to 30 local people and being the main destination point for visitors to Aledo. In addition, the building where Maple City is located was set to be demolished before their renovations, so the property tax and sales tax generated would have been lost to the town. Finally, Maple City is an active member in the Aledo Main St. organization and the Aledo Chamber of Commerce.