Sweet Annie’s Strikes Deal to Remain in Flossmoor

Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun entered Sweet Annie’s Bakery last Saturday on a mission.

“He was very adamant about not wanting to lose (the bakery),” owner Anne Aboushousha said. “He asked, ‘What can we do?’”

Braun told Patch he’s been hard at work trying to facilitate a rental agreement between Aboushousha and her current landlord Dean Armstrong so that she could keep her current shop. Last week, Aboushousha announced plans to move Sweet Annie’s Bakery to Homewood. Despite the move, Aboushousha told Patch she was looking to keep the old Sweet Annie’s open, should she reach agreeable terms with Armstrong.

A deal was reached Tuesday afternoon.

“We care very much about our businesses,” Braun said. “The village has and will continue to assist in any way we can.”

But Aboushousha says the community she loves is also largely to thank for her decision to stay. “The outpouring of Flossmoor residents really confirmed the commitment (Armstrong) has to the community,” Aboushousha said.

Armstrong says he’s excited to continue leasing his property to Aboushousha.

“(Sweet Annie’s) is part of the fabric of the community,” Armstrong said. “It adds to the vibrancy of downtown Flossmoor.”

The current Sweet Annie’s will be transformed into a scaled-down version catered especially to children. Aboushousha envisions edible arts and crafts during after-school hours and an old-time candy selection where kids of all ages can buy treats by the pound. The new Homewood location will function as a full-service bakery.

Aboushousha says she hopes to transition into the Homewood location some time near the beginning of March.