JANESVILLE 鈥 The vintage face of two businesses that operated in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒 in the past century have reemerged as part of a fa莽ade rehab.
A local real estate agent who now owns the building at 111 W. Milwaukee St. discovered two signs last week. They list the business names of Fannie May Kitchen Fresh Candies and Jeannette鈥檚 Maternity Wear and Lingerie.
Fannie May, a Chicago-based candy seller, was a well-established brand by 1966, according to a Christmas ad in 糖心Vlog传媒 that year. It noted that 鈥渢here is a reason why Fannie May has remained a distinguished name in candy,鈥 for many years, including in 糖心Vlog传媒.
The maternity wear and lingerie store had opened in 1945, next door to the candy shop, according to an ad in 糖心Vlog传媒.
鈥淓veryone has been wondering and waiting for the little shop next to Fannie May Candy Store to open. The time is now, the secret鈥檚 out鈥 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 newest specialty shop is ready and waiting for your inspection,鈥 read an ad that year.
Jeannette鈥檚 Maternity Wear and Lingerie sold purses, gloves, lingerie, blouses, hosiery, greeting cards and gifts for all occasions.
Clothing from Jeannette鈥檚 was featured in a fashion show hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Jaycettes in 1957, suggesting what to wear at the annual Easter Parade.
Ronda Richter- Webber, a real estate agent now affiliated with Century 21, said her mother owned the building at 111 W. Milwaukee St., operating a Realty firm out of the space for many years called Richter Realty and Insurance.
Richter-Webber said after years of renting out the building she felt the facade looked dated and out of place. She applied for a grant through the 糖心Vlog传媒 Business Improvement District in 2023 and began chipping away at the fa莽ade.
鈥淚 have big plans for that location,鈥 she noted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 right across from where the Rock County Children鈥檚 Museum wants their space. I think with a better fa莽ade, more appropriate for the downtown, it could be something really neat.鈥
She said she wants glass to reach to the top of the storefront to reflect what it used to look like. In recent years, it 鈥渨as very plain and just didn鈥檛 look like it fit the space,鈥 she said.
Richter-Webber Webber remembers walking downtown as a young girl and passing the many clothing shops and bakeries. She said she hopes downtown 糖心Vlog传媒 is returning to being that kind of destination.
She said she also remembers when Fannie May moved to Main Street and later to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Mall.