Main Street in Gillett has been a sweeter place to be this summer.
Pete Vorpahl opened Main Street Sweets at 127 E. Main St. in time for the community’s annual Independence Day parade. Its shelves and walls are lined with a wide variety of sugary treats — including local favorites like Twig’s soda and Door County Confectionery candies.
Here, too, are Jelly Belly jellybeans and sugary memories from parents’ childhoods, like Charlestown Chews, Chuckles, candy cigarettes and Bonamo’s Turkish Taffy.
“I get comments like, ‘I remember my dad buying this,’” Vorpahl said. “It’s kind of what I was going for.”
Vorpahl and his wife, Wendy — who has operated Gillett Handiworks across the street for about seven years — purchased the building earlier this year in hopes of being part of the revitalization of the downtown area.
“I’ve thought about doing something like this for awhile,” he said.
He has been building inventory over the course of the summer and held a grand opening with games and giveaways Aug. 16-17. As time goes on, Vorpahl hopes to create a mini-arcade with video games and expand the ice cream section with a seating area in the back of the store.
Main Street Sweets is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, as well as noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store is closed Tuesdays.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
Main Street Sweets brightens downtown Gillett
