Illinois Nut & Candy

Wonderfully friendly and accommodating staff. They’re enthusiastic about letting you sample as many things as you’d like. And they give free lollipops to kids.
Selection is extensive. Dairy products on one side, and dairy free I the other. Chocolates made in house. Lots of retro candies.
Closed Saturday, as is typical in Skokie.

Such an amazing store. Arrived when store closed and they reopened for us. Love your candy and your service!!!

They’re great! I needed a tray to take to a friend. They didn’t have quite what I wanted so they made one right on the spot. Very friendly pleasant people. I look forward to going back very soon. Especially to try out their sugar free chocolates.

As soon as I entered this cutesy little candy shop, I was in love. It reminded me of a real, old-​time candy store – the décor was absolutely perfect and just made me feel so happy!!! I’m not sure what’s my favorite part of the store, because there are so many aspects — the fun vibes, the kitschy décor, the very fresh candy, the cheery expressions («Have a sweet day!» and «Can we have your autograph?» when they ask you to sign for credit cards), or the helpful employees… the girl behind the counter was so cheerful and patient with me, even with my three complicated orders for three separate candy platters with different candy in each one. She made sure to stuff the candy to the brim («so it looks better,» she advised — a tip which I was very happy to hear!!), and wrapped the platters so beautifully with three different gift bows.
However, the cherry on top was the owner, David. I needed a small box for a separate gift I was giving my hostess (in addition to the candy), and my fiancé recommended I ask if they had any small boxes there. At first the girls behind the counter weren’t sure, but then David stepped in. Bringing us to the side of the store, he not only found us a beautiful little polka dotted gray-​and-​black box, and not only gave me an option of gray or black ribbon, and not only wrapped my gift all up for me, but he did the whole thing as a courtesy, and didn’t let me pay him!!! I was so overwhelmed by his kindness and the time he took to help my fiancé and I with our orders and with this extra gift. David even spent time — while all the other customers were there! — to show me some of the posters and photos on the wall that I was curious about (He was interviewed by several magazines and TV stations!)
David himself is a pleasure to speak with and a fascinating character, and if you’re in Skokie ever, pay a visit to Illinois Nut!!! You’ll be happy you did! I loved my experience here.

I just went to this candy store for the first time today around 10:30 this morning. I was very impressed with the selection, and everything smelled delicious, so I am sad to report it will also be my last time. The woman working behind the counter was so unbelievably rude hat I left without buying anything an have no intention of returning. I wanted to buy some chocolates for my husband for Christmas and I am in the area of this store 2 – 3 times and week and had been meaning to check it out. It was exactly like I expected and reminded me of a candy store my mother used to take me to when I was a little girl.
The problem arose when I asked the young woman behind the counter what the espresso chocolates were. She responded in the most condescending, irritated tone I have ever encountered and informed me that they were espresso beans covered in chocolate. Her tone, combined with the withering stare she gave me, was enough to tell me that additional questions would not be welcome. I looked at her for a moment, and then responded that I was sorry for inconveniencing her with my question and that I would be taking my business elsewhere. No one working, including her, made a move to stop me.
So I guess if you know what you want and don’t need any assistance from the sales clerks this would be a fine store, but if you have any questions, and don’t want to be made to feel like a piece of shit for asking them, this is not the store for you.

Wonderful, friendly, sweet, patient, caring staff!!!
I was in with my son for two hours, trying to figure out what to get as party favors for his party.
The girls were so helpful, they let us try everything, asked questions, were doing everything they could to stay within my budget and still have a wonderful outcome.
WOW!!! WONDERFUL PLACE!!!

Just dropped by this candy store for the first time in years and its much better than I remember. The selection is vast and varied and everything I tried was great.
I wanna give special mention to the very helpful employee who helped me out on my visit; Sam! She was what the old-​school candy shop experience is all about. She was super friendly, had an incredibly sunny disposition, and all her suggestions were spot-​on. Plus, as an added bonus she custom designed my order in a fantastic little gift wrapped package! Great experience made all the better by the staff. Will definitely be back soon.

I’ve driven past this place 2000 times, and always said «I should stop in sometime.» I finally had a reason to try them and I was über-​pleased. I had to buy a bunch of candy for an office event and found exactly what I needed at Illinois Nut & Candy. They helped me pick an item, and they have so much to choose from (note to self: get the shimmery gumballs!). The salesperson that waited on me was so helpful and patient, and then the owner/​manager did me a HUGE solid by counting the number of jawbreakers I had, so I didn’t have to do it myself (they were for a «guess how many are in the jar?» game). I got a nice university discount, had super friendly and helpful service, and, they have a ton of inventory. The only thing that was a little odd, candy-​store wise, was that all of the candy is behind the counter in bins. Normally you can pick the candy yourself, but, at Illinois Nut & Candy they do it for you. It’s not a big deal, just not the normal candy store layout. I will absolutely go back to them, and, would be happy to recommend them to anyone in the candy buying market.

Ordered a wide variety of candy, chocolate and flourless chocolate cake for our daughter’s bat mitzvah luncheon. The candy is really hard to see behind the counter and the gal behind it could be more friendly and helpful. The candy and chocolate were yummy & fresh. The flourless chocolate cake is delicious.

I’ve been looking for a reason to go in there. Today I went in and the customer service there sucks! I was looking at buying multiple items and no one cared to help. I was standing at the counter and the women were standing there. I just walked out. I was very disappointed considering I was ordering chocolates for my sisters wedding. Back to searching for a new chocolate store

most uncomfortable experience I have ever had in a store. although there were multiple people in the store, it was more quiet than a library and it felt awkward to ask the sales person about a particular candy. All of the candy is behind the counter and difficult to see and the store is all around unfriendly. and to top it all off after being told they didn’t have the candy I was looking for I saw it on my way out! but by then I had no desire to give them my business.

Was excited to go to a candy store. Maybe I caught the employees on a bad day…
Thought the customer service was okay. Didn’t feel a real warm genuine friendliness — owner or manager gentleman seemed a bit condescending. He was short with us and didn’t really smile — he seemed impatient while we were trying to decide what we wanted. Customer service is important to us and we just didn’t get it that day we came in.
The bulk candy is all behind the counter so it was difficult to see the candy when picking it out, unlike a place where you get to scoop yourself. Had the caramels and sour cherry balls and can say I have had better.
The volume and selection of candy is good, otherwise.

This place looks huge from the outside but is rather small inside with many walls of candy so watch where you’re walking!
Everything is kosher. The candy is delicious. It’s worth a stop if you’re trying to impress someone but it’s not so special that it can’t be made nearly anywhere else, or at home.
Staff is friendly and does well managing a full store with limited space and two registers. Great job!

Got bulk candy from the bins. I wish the candy wasn’t behind the counter because then I would have been able to scoop it myself. But other than that it was good.

Illinois Nut & Candy made brownies as part of my wedding favors and they were delicious! They were moist and chocolatey and had a hint of mocha. They also managed to deliver them on time despite the flooding we had the week of our wedding. They went above and beyond and we were very happy! Would recommend to anyone looking for custom chocolate or packaging or just yummy brownies!

Huge selection, fantastic trays. The owner David aims to please.
Would highly recommend the chocolate barks; there is a wide selection, and they are all fantastic.

I somehow tripped over this store and book-​marked it this summer. I happened to be driving by and swung in to see what they had. I fairly decent selection of kids candies and also the adult chocolate fare. I didn’t buy a whole lot, just some «bark» for the kids.
The owner was meeting with some customers and seemed very involved with his clients. Bravo to what seemed genuine customer service. The clerk who waited on me was also extremely pleasant and helpful.
I didn’t see anything that interested me, but the kids liked the «bark».

Candy is delicious… try the amaretto truffle!!!

On the one hand, everyone likes a candy shop, right?
On the other hand, the interior is sort of dim and uninviting, and the first time I went in, there wasn’t a clerk to be seen. But most importantly of all, the bulk jelly beans which they sell are Gimbal brand! It’s hard to discern the difference with the naked eye, because besides the numerous common shared flavors, Gimbal cribs several Jelly Belly classics such as Buttered Popcorn and Strawberry Cheesecake. In a few cases they change the name just a little (presumably to skirt the copyright laws?) – «Roasted» Marshmallow, «Perfectly» Pear, and «Spicy» Cinnamon. Come on. They even copy the speckled and marbled coloring of many Jelly Belly flavors.
The semi-​legible, hand-​lettered signs denoting the jelly bean flavors are a perfect reflection of what this place is selling – a second-​rate product. Why don’t they just sell Jelly Bellys? The branded materials alone would brighten up their store by several notches.
For the record, I did try the jelly beans, and they don’t taste nearly as good as Jelly Belly.

I stopped in here about a week before Purim, which meant that there was a pretty big crush of people for a weekday afternoon. The shop is large and well lit, and the selection is fairly wide. There’s an enormous selection of bulk candies, like Jordan almonds, mints, jelly beans, and chocolate covered what-​have-​you. As far as nicer chocolates, the selection was somewhat more limited. Loads of options for anyone with allergies or looking for sugar-​free candy.
The service wasn’t that great, hence the three stars. I understand being swamped with orders for a holiday, but it really felt like the manager/​owner didn’t want me there. I was there for about half an hour trying to get a small order filled, and while the young woman helping me was very polite, I saw the owner snap at four or five customers in the time that I was there. The rudeness I saw from him and another woman made me somewhat loath to go back.