First look: Sweeties Big Fun opens at Pinecrest development

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

First look: Sweeties Big Fun opens at Pinecrest development

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The big fun isn’t over for Cleveland shoppers.

It’s just gotten a little sweeter.

Story by Plain Dealer Reporter Laura DeMarco

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

A timely call

Steve Presser had no intention of reviving his Big Fun store when he closed the iconic memorabilia-toy-candy store on Coventry Road in June.

Then he got a call from longtime friend and business partner Tom Scheiman, owner of BA Sweetie’s candy and soda emporium on Brookpark Road, open for 37 years.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Sweet partnership

Scheiman had been approached by Fairmount Properties, developer of the new Pinecrest lifestyle-shopping center in Orange, late last year. They were looking for a locally-owned candy shop tenant, and had thought of BA Sweeties.

“My first thought was ‘no,’ we don’t do off-site locations,” says Scheiman. “But then I thought of Steve. We’ve been working together for more than 20 years, I supplied the candy for Big Fun. I thought, it I could do something like this with him, I might do it.”

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Intriguing offer

Scheiman made a call. The time was right. Presser had not yet made the decision to close Big Fun, but the long hours and stress had been getting to him after 27 years in business, in which the internet use had slowly eaten away at the nostalgia market.

Presser was intrigued. Scheiman was offering him a partnership in which he would put up the money and Presser would manage the shop.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

A store is born

At first, Presser thought he would do both stores. But by the end of last year, he made the decision the Coventry Road shop would have to close. It’s something he said would have happened with or without Sweetie’s Big Fun. But it left more time to focus on the new shop: Sweeties Big Fun.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

'about making people happy'

The new business would combine not only their names, but their passions: candy and toys (and sodas and card and games …). It made sense … “both of our shops are about making people happy, having fun,” says Presser.

Sweetie’s Big Fun, which had a soft opening this week at Pinecrest will do that … and then some.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Old-fashioned ice cream window

The 2155-square foot space isn’t just a store. It’s an experience: in addition to the toys, candy and a cornucopia of flavored pop for sale, it’s also an old-fashioned ice cream and popcorn shop with a roll-up window that faces out onto the sidewalk across from the green public space at the shopping center.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

'Simple' and classic

Food options will be “simple” and classic: chocolate and vanilla soft serve and three flavors of popcorn, regular, caramel and cheese – or their signature “Sweet and Cheesy” mix. All food is certified Kosher. Visitors will be able to step up to the window and order and take their treats across to the greenspace or nibble and lick as they walk.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Even the garbage cans are unique

Most, however, will likely want to step inside. Sweetie’s Big Fun is Cleveland’s take on Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory - a pop-art explosion of color, taste and wonder. Even the garbage cans.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Soda + Pop

The look is as fun as the products. A rainbow of pop bottle line the back wall, which is booked ended by neon art from Dana Depew boasting “Soda” and “Pop.”

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

1968 VW van

A giant popcorn box, Dorothy’s spinning house from “The Wizard of Oz,” and vintage signs line the walls and hang from the ceiling. But the piece de resistance is the 1968 vintage VW van that is mounted on the back wall (or, at least a third of it is). Painted in grand psychedelic style, the van is the visual stunner in a room of stunners. Scheiman and Presser dug it up out of a field in Akron – literally. It had been buried there for decades “We bought two, but this was so hard to get out – there were trees in it – we just left the other one there,” Scheiman laughs.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

1200 varieties of candy

The van hangs above the soda section, at the back of the shop, but it’s the first thing you notice when you enter. Just in front are the candy rows: Mambas and Mallo Cups and hard candies and Zagnuts and Good and Plentys and hundreds of other retro and modern options. Scheiman says there are 1200 varieties in all.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Ghoulardi gifts

Candy takes up about the back third of the store. In front of that is the “fun” stuff: joke and gag gifts, a magic section, a bubble section, greeting cards and books, a Ghoulardi section, T-shirts and socks and more. There’s also a selection of classic board games and other toys.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Evoking nostalgia

“I wanted to a mix that would evoke nostalgia,” says Presser.

“Especially with Toys R Us closing. We decided to add more games when we heard about that.”

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

More than 1000 toys and gifts

There are more than 1000 toy and gift items, from magic wands to Rubik’s Cubes, ant farms and oven mitts with risqué messages.

“Our goal really is too out a smile on people’s faces,” says Presser, as Scheiman agrees.

Mission accomplished.

Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer

Address and hours

Sweeties Big Fun is at 10 Park Avenue in the Pinecrest development in Orange Village.

Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.