Amanda Puck, director of strategic brand development for Mariano’s, loves to describe the chain as, “an experience.” It’s a lofty goal for a grocery store, but it’s definitely a goal they seem to be achieving.

Pop music dances around the room as Katy Perry, Rihanna, Gerald Butler and other pop culture icons with lollipops in hand smile coyly down at everyone who steps into Sugar Factory’s new location in Rosemont, Ill.

Rhonda Dehn always had a head for figures. Thus, when asked to work Saturdays at the family’s retail candy shop in Palatine, Ill., there were no issues when it came to computing sales taxes on purchases or giving out change.

Illinois’ Senator Richard Durbin'spithy, “Is ‘the corner of happy and healthy’ somewhere in the Swiss Alps?” quickly became a sound bite with teeth.

You can always tell when someone is writing about dollar stores who has never actually been to a dollar store.