Sweet Cravings gets its start in Fairview Heights

SBDC for Metro East helps celebrates grand opening

Sweet Cravings, LLC, which provides a variety of homemade fresh quality ice cream, ourmet popcorn, and other sweets to satisfy sweet cravings, celebrate its grand opening in August at 706 Lincoln Highway in Fairview Heights.

Owner Vickie Fair has worked with the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May since March 2019 to achieve her old- fashioned, small town, homemade ice cream shop that contains a sophistication of gourmet popcorn, and a plethora of ice cream and Italian ice flavors.

The SBDC provided assistance to Fair with finalizing her business plan, financial avenues and grant information, while offering informative information and help where needed.

“Working with the SBDC and Jo Ann has been a highly positive experience,” Fair said. “Jo Ann is extremely helpful and has tremendous knowledge. It doesn’t matter what information you need, she can always point you in the right direction.”

“Ms. Vickie is hard working, receptive to advice and extremely motivated,” DiMaggio May said. “Her passion for making delicious treats, and her focus on customer service is truly refreshing! I look forward to seeing Sweet Cravings grow and becoming a household name.”

Additionally, Fair was the first-place winner of the 2019 Metro East Start-Up Challenge Mock Pitch Competition.

Fair has always had a passion for making sweets, and has been providing popcorn and ice cream to friends and family since 2010. Her career goal has always been to own a business, and now she is taking her small business to the next step with the grand opening of a brick and mortar location.

As a one-stop shop for all of one’s sweet desires, Fair takes pride in Sweet Cravings offering gourmet products at small town prices. All products are made with fresh premium, high quality, local ingredients, using local suppliers.

Her goal is to put an emphasis on community involvement. She wants her business to be a place that brings back memories for those who used to walk to the corner store for ice cream. She hopes Sweet Cravings will be a place where community members can make new memories. Perhaps one day, Sweet Cravings will become a brand name.

Sweet Cravings is open noon-8 p.m. daily.

For more information, contact Sweet Cravings at (618) 589-9045 or sweetcravings4all@gmail.com. Find it on Facebook and Instagram at @sweetcravings4all.