Sweet C's gets the OK to expand in Palatine

Sweet C's Bakery will proceed with expansion plans after gaining Palatine village council approval Monday night.

Village council members granted Sweet C's request for a special-use permit to spread into neighboring vacant space previously occupied by LPL Financial. Sweet C's is in downtown Palatine at 10 Bothwell St.

Expansion work is expected to begin in January, said Sweet C's owner Celia Kallenborn. She said the bakery will be closed during the construction.

Sweet C's is known for cakes, cookies and cupcakes. The nearly 4-year-old bakery has a rotating selection of cookies, including oatmeal-cherry and peanut butter kisses, with cupcake offerings on a given day such as lime margarita, cinnamon swirl and German chocolate.

Palatine Councilman Brad Helms, whose District 6 includes downtown, said Sweet C's expansion is an area where there are opportunities for businesses to move into and refurbish older buildings.

"It kind of keeps the rent down and allows these small mom and pop shops to still thrive," Helms said after Monday's council session. "I think it's a great sign they're expanding. I think it says a lot for our downtown residents and the fact that they're down there frequenting these places."

Covering about 850 square feet, Sweet C's will need to remove a wall to spread into the 900 square feet vacated by LPL Financial. Sweet C's intends to upgrade the exterior with a new awning.

By becoming slightly more than double its current size, Sweet C's will have seating for eight customers and occasionally host private events. Sweet C's also will gain more work space, allowing it to offer a greater pastry selection, coffee, tea and a chimney cake known as kurtos, which is dough rolled onto a cylinder, baked and finished with a choice of toppings.

Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said while new construction downtown typically gets attention, smaller scale projects such as Sweet C's expansion are just as important.

"It's as much about reinvesting in local businesses, the expansion and the mom-and-pops," Ottesen said.

Kallenborn long has been part of Palatine's food scene. Her family's Mexico Uno opened in 1989 on North Brockway Street, around the corner from her bakery.