quote:

Originally posted by Flesor

Hello All, and thank you for your encouragement. Our store is located in Downtown Tuscola, one little town block from the tracks.
Tuscola is approx. 30 miles south of Champaign/Urbana. We even have our own exit directly off of I-57. Those who prefer small highways will find us along Route 45, which used to be THE road to Chicago.

We make our own ice cream and candy. We even have horehound candy, which I make from steeping the herb for hours. Then I cook up the "tea" with sugar and corn syrup. After it reaches 300 degrees, we pour it out of the copper kettle onto a big marble table, and cut it into squares after it cools just enough.

If any of you have candy-making questions, I’m happy to share what I know. I’m using my late grandfather’s and late father’s recipes.

Devon Flesor Nau

I have. in the past, talked to the families of the people that had the Candy/soda fountains, here in Niles, that I mention in my above post.

Alot of their ancestors had the recipes in their head or they made the candy by the old how it looks, how it smells, and how it taste method.

So their receipes are lost forever

[8D]Ever since the Dixie (Truckers Home) got knocked out of the box a couple of years ago in Tuscola and Effingham along I57 and in Mclean on I55, good road food in Central Illinois has gone down several notches.

To focus on I57, not much of anything once you leave south of the Chicago area. The old all you could place in Kankakee went under a few years back, then, of course, the Dixie’s.

Once south of Champaign, your outta luck, unless of course your into the mass food type places you hit in Effingham.

You can take your chances and stop along the way, Charleston and Mattoon come to mind, but, again, your just going to hit franchise joints. If your in a mood for adventure, the Coles County only old style fast food joints McHugh’s are a good bet (Charleston on Lincoln, Mattoon on Charleston-both the same exit). Lee’s Chicken, a franchise joint, is good in Mattoon. And, for a true diner experience, Gil’s in Mattoon is great.

I used to love hanging out at Dixie’s in Tuscola. The food was great, true truck stop fare, good service and people. It was a real hangout in Tuscola, and for people in the rural areas when they would come into town and hit the mall across the street. There is a place open today where the Dixie stood, but, you just can’t replace that. I don’t know what the Dixie owners did the screw up such a good thing but I would certainly like to hear how they managed to have to sell the place.

quote:

Originally posted by Flesor
I just realized that my posting sounds like an ad, and for that I’m sorry. I do hope that people visit our store because there are so few real soda fountains left in America; however, just looking at our website or touring our store is a treat, and no one is forced to buy anything. Please forgive me for reading the rules of your site AFTER I posted my announcement.
If anyone out there would like to discuss soda fountains or candy-making, I’m here.
Devon Flesor

Devon,
Your posting sounds like an ad? Quite the contrary! As a longtime poster and observer here, it seems to me that you have reported Real Roadfood to us; this is more like a public service than anything we could think of as hype.
It’s amazing to me that nobody has come through and discovered you and reported on it here, but now you will inspire folks here to seek you out.
Now – how about some reports on other such places on a separate thread?
Wishing I Were In Tuscola Now With A Gusburger With Feta And A Lime Fizz, Ort. Carlton in Rainy Athens, Georgia.
P. S. Radio station WDZ was founded in Tuscola in 1921. It moved to Decatur later.

Neat website! I will definately stop next time I’m downstate. Many years ago the Illinois Tourism board ran a commercial with a little jingle: "Just outside Chicago is a place called Illinois". Good wishes with your business.

Welcome and good luck to you on your noble venture. I wish you great success. Are you anywhere enroute to Springfield from Chicago? If so, we might make a stop on our way to see the new Lincoln museum.

Also, there is much needed information on good Roadfood in Central Illinois so we would love to have your input. Not much is listed here outside of Chicago, unfortunately. We love driving around through Illinois and discovering the folks and places that make this a great state. Too often people think of "Chicago" as Illinois and that just isn’t true. Hope to see you one of these days.

I have enjoyed a couple of visits to your town to sit by the Railroad Crossing and photograph trains there. Where are you located relative to the rail intersection?
We’ll be up that way late in June on a train-watcher roadtrip and would like to stop by! Good luck with your restoration and new business venture.

quote:

Originally posted by Flesor

My sister and I have re-opened a beautiful soda fountain/restaurant/candy store in Tuscola, Illinois. In 1901 my Greek immigrant grandfather began his confectionary business in little downtown Tuscola, and the store remained in our family through the 1970’s. After my family left the business, the building fell into pretty horrible disrepair; however, the gorgeous, original fixtures were saved off site. My sister and I recently purchased the building, the fixtures, repaired the building and returned to the family business. We opened last fall, and have enjoyed making chocolates and sodas and lunch for thousands of people who have discovered or re-discovered us. Please look at pictures at our website: http://www.flesorscandy.com Thanks,
Devon Flesor Nau
Co-owner
Flesor’s Candy Kitchen

Great website and a really neat thing You and your sister did!

Candy/soda fountains are a dying breed, it is really neat to see that You and your sister are helping to keep this American Institution alive!

I was born and raised in Niles, borned in 1951, Back when I was a kid, there was 3 candy/soda shops, here in Niles. Now there is only one left and it is now only a candy store! Yes, it is really great that You bought this store back!