As the sun rose over the unincorporated community of Kings in Ogle County on a bleak and cold winter day, a frigid gust of wind whipped a large sign flapping outside a building that used to be a Civil War era church. For drivers traveling this rural and lonely stretch of Illinois Route 64, the bright colors of the sign that said “Antiques,” stood in stark contrast to the pale and muted landscape of Kings this time of the year. For ten years, Laura Fitch has owned this remarkable landmark, and in the process, built a robust antique, chocolate, and coffee shop inside.

“I chose for this shop my favorite things,” said Laura. “I think that coffee creates an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie. I love the story that antiques tell. And of course, life isn’t complete without chocolate.”

Laura and her husband live not far from Kings in Northwest Illinois roughly 20 miles south of Rockford, and said she had always admired the building. One day she noticed the old church was empty and for sale, and she said she knew she wanted to own it.

“I’ve always wanted to do something special with coffee and antiques and chocolate,” Laura explained. “Sweet Revival was born when the opportunity came to purchase this building and make that dream come true.”

The shop’s name, as it turned out, was a serendipitous gift.

“I didn’t have anything to do with this name,” Laura admitted with a laugh, noting how a neighbor, who also happened to be former church member at the church in Kings, inquired what Laura had planned inside the old building. After hearing Laura’s explanation for her business, Laura said the neighbor revealed “‘I have a name for you. It’s Sweet Revival.’”

“It’s what I’ve been looking for and it’s what it’s all about,” said Laura with a wide smile. “We’re about reviving a piece of history. And of course, we love the sweets. So, it is a sweet revival.”

Reviving history

There was a time when there was not a church in Kings, which was founded as a cattle community in 1876 and originally called Kings Station. The village spanned a parcel of land owned by William Henry King and his wife, Emeline.

“He (Mr. King) decided at one point that this town needed a church. So, he said whoever could get a building on this site would get the deed to the land,” recounted Laura. “And so, the people of this church picked up their church, pulled it down the highway, and placed it here.

“People have asked me for stories about this church ever since we opened,” Laura said. “I tell them, I know that it was always a wartime church. It was built in 1862, added on to in 1915. So, I feel that the place was built as a refuge from the trials of war, and it’s always had a peaceful atmosphere. People appreciate and enjoy the atmosphere when they come here.”

Laura said that when she first purchased the building, there was considerable hesitancy in the community among people wondering about her intentions and whether she wanted to raze the building. She said she let Sweet Revival do the talking for her.

“I think that everyone was very pleased to see the transition that we made. There were people that were fourth-generation members here, and they were very concerned about its future. They’ve been very supportive of everything that we’ve done.

“I think that having this building is an opportunity to preserve history for the community and for the people of this area to be able to come here and relive some of their childhood memories.”

A place to discover the past

Laura said that her love for antiques represents the heart and soul of Sweet Revival. She said she has had a passion for antiques since childhood.

“I grew up around my grandma’s antiques, and they’ve always had a special place in my heart. I wanted to share that with other people in an atmosphere that suited old things.

“I find these antiques all over,” Laura explained. “I’m always on the hunt. So, it might be going to auctions or sales. Sometimes people come to me with their relative’s estates, and they ask me to come and take a look. And that’s been very helpful for me.

“I like the old primitive, hundred-plus-year-old antiques that tell a story of how life used to be,” said Laura. “They remind me of the times that I spent at my grandma’s house. And I always felt that I was living history when I was there. So, the oldest things remind me of how life used to be.”

It was Laura’s fascination with history that inspired her to create a space where others can experience the same sense of nostalgia. Laura’s focus is not solely on sales, but also creating a spiritual and memorable experience for visitors.

“We welcome everyone,” Laura said with a warm smile. “I feel that what we do here isn’t as much about trying to make a sale as it is about creating an experience where people can come here and have an enjoyable afternoon, and hopefully we’re the best part of their day.”

Customers are invited to browse, enjoy a specialty coffee or a chocolate treat that Laura proudly noted came from the renowned Illinois Blackhawk Chocolate Trail.

“I’ve always enjoyed spending time here,” said Laura with pride. “Customers have told me they could spend all day here, and they are welcome to do so.”

An education about opening a small business in Illinois

Sweet Revival was Laura’s first foray into business. Prior to opening her this place, Laura spent many years in education as a teacher.

“Everything that I learned from teaching could be applied to Sweet Revival, from things as simple as handwriting, to learning how to advertise and how to present myself, and how to present the shop to other people,” explained Laura. “In teaching, I was always in the front of the room. And here I’m still in front of the room.”

Opening Sweet Revival was not without its challenges, particularly when it came to adapting the historic building for a new purpose.

“One of the most challenging things about opening a business here was changing the use of an old church to something new,” Laura admitted. “There was a plethora of codes and licensing and education that I needed to have, and it was very daunting. So, there were times when I had to sit and have a good cry and then pick myself up and say, ‘We’re not quitting.’,

“Being a teacher, I was used to finding solutions,” Laura said. “So that’s what I had to do here. I had to dig in and do my research and keep hunting until I figured things out.”

A revival in Illinois

As much as running a small business in Illinois is a labor of love for Laura, it also requires a tremendous time commitment.

“What I’d like people to know about retail in Illinois, and especially small business, is that it’s so much more time and more work than what it appears,” Laura shared. “I truly appreciate when customers come in and notice the time and the effort that’s gone into creating that special space for them. We still honor God here every day, and we hope that when they leave here, it was the best part of their day.”

Laura’s retail journey is filled with lessons learned and wisdom gained.

“The advice that I would give someone who is thinking about getting started in retail would be to make sure that you limit your hours,” advised Laura. “It’s very easy to get in over your head, to be buried by the fact that the work is never-ending. So, it’s very important to make time for yourself, to limit what you do here.

“There’s always going to be times when business is slow, when things don’t go as they should. You can’t get discouraged. You have to just know that this is where you should be. This is what you should be doing, and to persevere.

“I love retail, because I love the people,” Laura said with a smile. “I love how every day is different. Every day is a new challenge. I like changing with new ideas to be added all the time. I enjoy being here and for me the creative process never ends.”

Truly a sweet revival

The love Laura has for her business is obvious when anyone walks through her doors as is her reverence for the Lord. She feels she has earnestly and honestly made a connection at Sweet Revival between retail and God.

“I think Sweet Revival matters because it’s an opportunity to share history and to keep a Godly building alive for people, share the joy and the peace that’s here. I haven’t thought about being proud of myself. I would say I feel honored that this business has come this far and that we’ve been here ten years. We have no intention of going anywhere.

“Honoring God in this place is always on my mind,” reflected Laura. “It’s always been part of what I do. So, I feel it’s important to treat everybody that comes in here with respect. And if they ask me why I do this, I tell them I do it because this is where God has led me. It’s not what I ever expected to be doing with my life, but this is the path that I’ve followed.”