Review Visit: September 17th, 2014…read more Sugar. Spice. Everything nice. Like in a lot of smaller towns, you'll usually have or find a business that deals in candy. Sugary confections. Sweet treats. Candy from yesteryears. Soda (pop) in more varieties than you care for it to come in. Things you think you'd never see again and things you fall in love with. Holland's Mercantile fills that role for Washington, IL. My friend Matt and I decided to spend an afternoon exploring the Washington Square to see what the town and it's folk offered. The words on the front of the store's glass got me excited at the possibilities held inside. As we opened the door and headed in, the excitement increased tenfold. It was like being a kid in a candy store. Except that we are adults... in a candy store. Upon entering, I first noticed the long row of candy in the glass containers where you can scoop out as much as you want. Lining the walls were a million different candy from a million different times and cultures. I saw things I hadn't seen in years. They had stuff I didn't think existed in time where color TV is the norm. On top of the candy, they also had a display case full of baked goods. Whether these are made in-house or from a local bakery, I am not sure. Either way, the stuff looked fantastic behind the glass. Turtles. Truffles. Caramel Bars. It all looked so good that I think my blood sugar level elevated just looking at the offerings. This store has more than just candy, baked goodies, and sweets from everyone's childhood. They also had the novelty toys from the same time period the candy/sweets come from. There were novelty toys that tied in to current day trends but they also had toys that kids from our time would enjoy just as much as kids from the time from which they came. I also think there was a back room that was full of a combination of everything the store offered. On this day, I let my inner child run wild and I picked up a small sack full of candy. I didn't want to get too much because I don't have the best self-control when it comes to my sweet tooth. Next door is another Holland's store that offers up popcorn in many different flavors and even more soda to pick from. This store did remind me of the candy store from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, minus the Candy Man tossing candy to and fro. Though that would've been quite the sight to see. The store just has this feeling of being a great place to get your sweet tooth fix while reliving items from your childhood and also your parent's childhood. I will end this with a warning. If you have kids and bring them here... expect to drop a lot of money on sweets and toys. It's easy to spend a small fortune in a place like this. Also, don't let your kids see Holland's Caramelcorn next door. They might get loaded up on sugar and then get popcorn cheese everywhere. How sweet it is.

The best variety of popcorn indulgence is waiting for you at Hollands. It is hands down better…read morethan Garrett's! I make trips to central Illinois, and this is one of my must do stops!

Excellently selection of sodas, weird or wild, candy, etc. Good surprise stop. Bbq was good, just…read morelike moms

Affordable little Mom 'n Pop soda stand. Try the vanilla marshmallow Coke with double marshmallow…read moreand vanilla. ($5 minimum credit card purchase.) When you're done here, check out the Chocolatier across the street. Nice people & nostalgic drinks; not a huge selection so only a 4 star. It's a cute find out in the middle of nowhere tho!

I grew up in central Illinois and would visit this shop in high school. I've loved their chocolates…read moreever since I first tried them, and missed them desperately when I moved out of state. I'm so thrilled to see that they now ship nationwide, and I'm able to enjoy a little taste of home all the way out in Colorado. Looking forward to my shipment coming!

Such a lovely stop -- the kind of shop where you're greeted with a smile and feel instantly at…read moreease. Everything was neat, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged. The chocolates are rich and memorable, the treats creative, and the caramel apples... well, they're worth coming back for on their own. A place that feels both special and welcoming -- highly recommend.

My son & husband had shakes, I had a two scoop sundae. The flavors were the Fat Elvis & Kitty Kitty…read moreBang Bang it was so yummy! They were pretty busy but everyone was taken care of quickly. And the two ladies working there was a great team, both assisted each to complete the orders

This store is amazing. Usually, candy in bins is a little stale, but it was so soft and fresh I…read morecouldn't believe it. We also bought the amazing rice krispy treats (dairy free)- one covered in jelly beans and one covered in nerds. Again, the jelly beans were so soft & fresh. The rice krispy treat was so gooey and delicious- I ate pieces at a time because it was so big. This store was a delightful find on a weekday when not much was open. My daughter with allergies was very happy to find some safe options. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

Very good popcorn. Very good service every time we go there. Will be back again. They make…read moredifferent kinds of popcorn every single day

Me and my kids went in to get the $5 fill your own bucket and came out with out bucket 2 more bags…read moreof popcorn and freeze dried candy! Both of the men that helped us out was very friendly and let us try sample of just about anything! I absolutely LOVE the peppermint and cinnamon roll popcorn

What a super neat ice cream and candy shop! Cute decor, friendly service, and yummy treats. We…read moretried the bubble waffles with an Oreo topping. Wow! I cannot wait to go again next time I am in the Morton/Peoria area.

Tasty and yummy I like this place. The dole whip is very tasty and they make the place look nice…read moretoo!!

Such a fun place! So many popcorn flavors and specialty candy to choose from. I got Puppy Chow,…read moreWhite Cheddar, and Extra Cheesy Cheese. A little on the pricey side but worth it for the flavor!

This is a stand-alone cute little place. There are several dozen varieties of popcorn. They…read morecome in multiple sizes and prices vary according to the popcorn style. They also have decorator tins and party trays available. Donny B was working and was very nice and helpful. You can sample the popcorn since there are many unusual flavors. I bought the dark chocolate sea salt and Carmel. There is also a fairly large candy selection. Both bulk weight priced kinds and specialty candies. This will become a regular stop for me when I'm in town.

Stephanie is so sweet! No pun intended! What a great store full of everything sugar. Hard scooped…read moreice cream, hard candy, chocolates, locally made popcorn and other fun treats. Lots of things to look at, little gifts like socks and candles. This is a happy little shop located on Main. The parking is not so great on this block but it's just a short walk from other side street parking. Please support this small locally owned business!

From the owner: Hey Sweetie is a candy and ice cream shop that specializes in nostalgic candy, TikTok trending…read morecandy, gourmet popcorn and gourmet chocolates and so much more! We are family owned and we greatly appreciate our customers. When you walk into our shop you are part of our family and want you to feel that! Thank you for your support!

Wonderful ice cream fountain. Chocolate ice cream soda with home made ice cream good company. Best…read moreice cream soda I have had since Rosenberg, Tx. Try it.

This is a wonderful place. I love the butter beer so much it is delicious. And the employees are so…read morekind and will love to get to know you. Whenever I walk in now they already know what I want. Try it out you will love it.

Recently came here to shop around and see what they offered since our niece's birthday was coming…read moreup. This store was pretty busy and they had tons of exciting childrens toys and alot of them were really interactive. I found some great mad lib books that I personally enjoy no matter what age I'm at. Prices are fair too. Overall, good toy store to check out.

My wife and 2 year old daughter came in here. No one greeted us, no one offered to help us. We had…read moreabout $100 of items we were going to buy when we realized that they were greeting and helping every other person the came into the store. Guess we weren't the right skin tone.