Sweet Granada Receives a $15,000 Incentives Without Walls Grant!

By Madinah Hazim, Public Information Officer

Chocolate always seems to put people in a good mood. Have you ever heard of someone coming into a chocolate shop in a bad mood? If you haven’t, neither has Kim Redeker, co-owner of Sweet Granada in Emporia, which is one reason why she loves her job.

“Chocolate is such a happy indulgence,” Redeker said. “People come into the shop with a smile on their face and it makes my job wonderful.”

Sweet Granada opened in November of 2004. The store has dark chocolate, white chocolate, 18 different kinds of truffles, and cream-filled, nut-filled, caramel-filled, and cookie-filled chocolates. Sweet Granada also offers beverages, seasonal freshly squeezed lemonade, cards, gifts and gift wrapping.

Redeker and her mother, Toni Bowling, decided to go into business together and open their own chocolate shop a few years ago.

“My mom was retiring from the education field and we went on a trip together and talked about starting our own business,” Redeker said. “I had never really thought about opening a chocolate store and one day we were downtown and we looked through the window of the vacant store that is now Sweet Granada and almost said in unison, ‘what about a chocolate shop?’”

Redeker thought that a chocolate shop would be perfect, since Sweet Granada is located right next to the Granada Theater and a coffee shop.

“Chocolate and coffee go great together, and when the theatre is open people can get chocolate and coffee before or after leaving the theatre,” Redeker said.

Redeker and Bowling used the grant they received from the Kansas Department of Commerce to help with start-up costs.

Redeker said that she was elated when she discovered they were receiving the grant.

“Receiving the IWW grant gave us confidence, because it showed us that other people believed that this project was worthwhile,” Redeker said. “I can’t say enough about how receiving the grant has helped us. The grant was a crucial factor in deciding to proceed with the venture.”

Sweet Granada is part of the Emporia Main Street Association. Emporia Main Street received a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in May of 2005 for its efforts to revive Emporia’s downtown area.

Redeker said that she is very proud to be part of downtown Emporia.

“We want Emporia main street to become a destination district,” Redeker said. “We want people to come to downtown Emporia and spend an afternoon shopping.”

Redeker also believes that Sweet Granada really adds to downtown Emporia.

“I think that our store adds some charm and distinction to the area,” Redeker said. “It’s a legitimate item of pride for our community.”

Redeker also finds pride in the way visitors respond to her shop.

“I love people’s reaction when they come in and say that they would expect a shop like this in a big city,” Redeker said.

For more information on Sweet Granada, visit www.sweetgranada.com or call (620) 342-9600.

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