Mar 11, 2009

Wheeling’s America’s Market shop goes retroBy Kim MikusDailyHerald.com

America’s Market in Wheeling brings customers back to the time of old fashioned root beer, candy buttons and pop rocks.

The specialty food store at 9 Huntington Lane features thousands of products produced mainly by smaller businesses across the United States.

“About 95 percent of what I sell is American made products,” said owner Todd Schultheis of Lake Zurich. He operates the shop with business partner, Bryan Fellhauer of Elgin.

The shop specializes in glass bottled sodas.

“I believe we have the largest selection of bottled sodas around. We have 250 now,” he said. Top sellers include Ale-8-One, Moxie, a peppery Alabama ginger ale dating back to 1901, and Blenheim, which is the most popular pick. He also carries more than 45 different root beers. The Abita and Bull Dog root beer lines have recently rated on top during taste tests at the shop.

An array of retro candy is another big attraction. The shop also carries bulk candy from Albanese in Maryville, Ind.

“The shop has the feel of an old fashioned candy store. That’s what I’m going for. Kids don’t have that anymore,” Schultheis said.

He said customers always leave smiling.

“It’s like going through memory lane,” he said.

While the business is small, the owner said sales have grown 40 percent over last year. About half his products are in the store because shoppers have recommended them.

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