The Fudge Pot’s story starts with candy making in the 1930s—when my father began learning the trade at Mars Candy Co., under his uncle Tom Dattalo. He picked up everything from working with sugar to fixing machines, and kept at it for nearly two decades.
After a few years in the Marines during World War II and a short return to Mars, he moved north to Minnesota, trying his hand at several small candy operations with his brother and others. Some ventures worked out; others didn’t. But through all the ups and downs, he kept refining his craft, one batch at a time.
In the late 1950s, a candy shop owner in Wisconsin Dells reached out for help with fudge making, and my dad stepped in—teaching him on weekends while still holding a full-time job during the week. That became a family routine, with my sister Debbie and I tagging along for the ride and learning the ropes ourselves. We didn’t know it then, but those weekends helped shape everything that came next.
In 1962, my grandfather heard about a quirky little neighborhood in Chicago called Old Town. He met up with two other candy makers, and together they imagined a storefront focused on handmade fudge. That’s how The Fudge Pot was born—right in the heart of a growing creative community on Wells Street.
Like any small business, we went through growing pains, changes in ownership, and lessons learned the hard way. But over time, we built a steady rhythm—and a loyal customer base—by staying focused on what we do best: making small-batch candy with skill and heart.
By the mid-1970s, my father took over full-time, learning the intricacies of the business and carrying the torch. He introduced new recipes and product lines, grew our team and presence in the city, and kept us rooted in the same Old Town location where it all began. We’ve watched the neighborhood change over the decades, and we’ve changed right along with it—without ever losing the handmade, no-shortcuts approach that brought people in the door in the first place.
The neighborhood and business landscape have changed over the years, and in 2020 I took over day-to-day operations from my father. The move to online orders and shipping meant new challenges for a shop built on old-school craft. I’m proud to carry forward the tradition while also modernizing how we connect with customers near and far and still making caramel and fudge with my dad and family every day. We run the shop with a small, dedicated team making our candy by hand, shipping orders ourselves, and aim to keep things personal and local. We’re not interested in becoming a giant candy company—just in staying true to our roots, serving great candy, and being part of Chicago’s fabric.
Whether you’re a longtime customer or just discovering us online, welcome. We’re grateful for every sweet moment we get to share.
James Dattalo
The Fudge Pot Chicago