Fall Delights

With the new season ready to begin, many people are feeling trepidatious about the upcoming winter and the reports of another Polar Vortex slamming into the country, chilling our  bones and dropping tons of snow on our heads.  Fear not, hopefully we still have another month or two of beautiful weather and all those enjoyable sweets to cheer and warm our souls until then.

Here at Rissis we have our staples, like our gourmet Hot Chocolate, made from our specialty chocolates, our Hot Apple Cider and our Carmel Apples. Our newest additions to our Ice Cream selection is Deep Dish Apple Pie and with Caramel and Peanuts on top makes a Caramel Apple Sundae!

Our seasonal, specialty chocolates make great gifts and are handmade with love, from our mint Meltaways, to our Giant Peanut butter cups and Pecan Patties.

As a way of catering to our customers, we are now offering funnel cake and handmade donuts, along with a Soup de jour and other lunch items.

Summer carnivals won't just be a long lost memory, you can experience it all again, any season at Rissi's!

Rissis is located in the heart of Berwyn's Historic Depot District 6834 Windsor Ave. We are open year round for your convenience, right across from the Metra and BNSF rail lines. IF you are looking for way to enjoy the season, and purchase your Halloween candy & treats, look no further than Rissis.

Old Time Memories~Italian Ice & My Grandma

The summer of 1983~ I recall sitting on my grandparents balcony waiting & waiting...

The old fashioned, wooden barrel, ice cream machine was cranking away, I can still hear the whoosh whoosh as it turned. I think it was the 4th of July because I can also recall the snap and bang of fireworks resounding in the echoes of the courtyard. I couldn't wait for the machine to finish! It had already been an hour or so since my grandmother (Nonna) had started the process, loading the ice and salt around the outside of the canister. The promise of real Italian Ice/lemonade had my mouth watering!

I can taste it even today, the little bits of fresh lemon and ice. It's soothing feel of relief as I took my first spoonful. It may have been the heat combined with anticipation, but nothing ever tasted so good.

Now, being from Chicago there were plenty of places to go buy some, but nothing taste as good to an Italian than homemade!

Those typical arguments amongst Italians about meatballs or lasagna or Marinara etc. Come to mind. You wanted grandmas or mamas cooking, going out to eat was pointless. 

But I found a way! With the Lemon Ice anyway :) I was fortunate enough to obtain the right kind of ice and the method to make it fresh to order and best of all, about a minute wait!

I make it to taste and to order. Available in cups of various sizes or a Pint to take home and share with the kiddies or for a party. 

Next time you are in Berwyn, or want to take a trip to for that special experience, stop by Rissi's!

6834 Windsor Ave, Berwyn

The Sweet Life

http://www.chicagoparent.com/magazines/special-parent/winter-2014/mom-of-month

Rissi's Old Time Candy & Toys Ice Cream Parlour

Luck O' the Irish Mint Hot Chocolate

Introducing the newest member of our Hot Chocolate family. You will never have a better Hot Chocolate, in my humble opinion. We use REAL chocolate, no powder and no syrup. Warm your soul while you delight your taste buds and stop in to Rissi's Today!

Introducing our newest Shake~ The Frosty Leprechaun

Introducing our newest Shake~ The Frosty Leprechaun
This shake is made from our Premium Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, a delicious, creamy way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Stop in today and enjoy REAL ice cream of the highest quality. Rissi's Old Time Ice Cream!

Rissis Giant Birthday Bowl

We offer a large Chocolate Bowl filled with 5 Scoops of your choice of Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Caramel/Fudge topping, and Peanuts or your choice of Oreo or Nutter Butters, topped with a Cherry! It's fun to share and socialize with your friends or family and EAT the BOWL! Come on in and enjoy our Premium Hersheys Ice Cream today: $20.99 Available for your party from 1-5 people.

Old Time Ice Cream Birthday Parties!

Fun for kids, moms & dads. You won't be disappointed or have as much Old Fashioned Fun. We provide a Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae. A warm cookie covered in your choice of any flavored ice cream, whipped cream, caramel or fudge. Also provided, two old time games to play!

Other packages are available and you can upgrade at any time to a Candy Buffet and an old time toy for the Birthday Girl or the Birthday Boy!

Basic Party Package Price per Child: $9.99
Party lasts 1 Hour.

Candy Fun Package with Candy Buffet: Lots of candy in your choice of color. A Party Pizza, and a Whirly Pop for the Birthday boy or girl. Price per child, $16.99
Party lasts 1 1/2 hours.

Premium Package: All of the above plus a custom made chocolate per child (your choice of theme), Plus prizes are provided for the winners of the games: $19.99
Party lasts 1 3/4 Hour

*We provide your color theme party favors, table cloths, plates cups.
*All packages are flexible and can be upgraded.

Ice Cream Winter

Foot traffic, foot traffic, foot traffic and please shop local. That's all I can think about lately. The economy is rough, especially for small businesses located in the heart of a small town. People are driving further and further to go to malls and mini malls to get their shopping done, but I think few people are thinking about the cost of gas anymore, they are just resigned to it.

If you consider the prices at your local business, you will realize that the tiny bit more you might pay at the register is balanced by the price of gas you spend on driving. Not to mention that you are keeping YOUR community alive. Housing prices are assisted by the amount of business in the area that help alleviate taxes on families.

I was put in a strange position recently, my neighboring business folded. An old fashioned ice cream shop. Our businesses complimented each other perfectly. The news broke right before winter and I was put in the position of taking over or watching yet another business die. So I have taken a huge risk and incorporated it into my existing business.  Hopefully their regular customers will begin to come in. The only solution is to reach out and let people know I now carry ice cream at Rissi's Old Time Candy & Toys. 

I think I was in shock when this staple of the community let me know they were going and suggested I take over. I contacted the supplier and bought the freezers and I am up and running with my own take on ice cream. I make floats with unique sodas and sundaes in chocolate bowls, but is that enough to drive traffic? Not really, especially during this time of the year. 

Our old time toys are an attraction for the Christmas season and our Giant pecan patties are great comfort food. So, I have found a way to warm your heart as well as your tummy with hot waffles covered in ice cream! It's sooo yummy... 

The next time you are headed to Brookfield Zoo or shopping in La Grange Il or countryside, remember Rissi's Old time Candy & Toys is just a hop, skip and a jump away in BERWYN, IL.

When you need something to do with the kiddos or you just want to take a walk through the past, stop by and visit Rissis.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries~Special Order for that Special Person

You can special order these today, by calling our number at 773-968-5925. They come in Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate and Mint Chocolate!

Christmas Photo Session!!!!

This includes our Marshmallow Witches, Frankensteins and Zombie Fingers... Candy Corn!

Our New Hours & Italian Ice

Since the beginning of the new school year we are starting our new hours: Tues-Fri. 11am-7pm, Sat. 11am-6 pm.

We have also started making Italian Ice, the Real Deal, my grandmothers recipe. It is Italian (water ice) Lemonade, just like Grandma's, but I make it right on the spot! We have a medium and a large, because small just won't do. So come on in soon and try some, you won't have to go all the way to Taylor St. anymore and it is NOT  the French sorbet that many of the restaurants tout as Italian Ice. We also have Snow Cones and Iced Coffee, made to taste. Hope to see you soon!

The newest addition to our menu!

Grand Opening

http://whyberwyn.com/featured/old-time-candy-store-satisfies-more-than-a-sweet-tooth/?cfb=1

This is an article written by Amy Crowther.

Printable coupon. Makes a wonderful gift!
(Actual pieces may vary)

Print this and bring it in for your Snow Cone. (Hawaiian Ice Flavors)

Peanut Pattie

When I first opened a few months ago, I began offering 1/4 lb. pecan patties and the response to them was awesome! They are absolutely delicious, but many people get confused between what has been branded Turtles and what has been branded Pixies; Turtles are made with peanuts and Pixies, Pecans. I am now offering both those made with pecans and peanuts. The new peanut patties are made with lucious caramel and milk chocolate and lots of peanuts. I do not skimp on ingredients. They are the biggest around. For special occasions like Mothers Day etc. you can purchase a box or a gift basket. For chocolate lovers these are the ultimate gift!

CandyCare Pack Day

We had a wonderful turn out thanks to the community! Our boys and girls serving overseas are going to love their their goodies. Special thanks to The Chesna Sisters, who sang their hearts out! I saw more than one tear. Also, a big heartfelt thank you to the Italian Club of Berwyn who generously bought most of the boxes we are shipping out and the Chief of Police and his family. For everyone that came out and showed their support, thank YOU!

We are very excited to announce that on 

April 20, 2013 12-3pm

The Chesna Sisters 

will be performing (in the style of the Andrew Sisters) for all who come out to attend our Candy Care Packs for the Troops event. Please mark your calendar, set a reminder in your phone and come out to hear these beautiful ladies sing. (they are only in their teens) It will be a memorable day!