After taking a cake decorating class 24 years ago, Nina Pascutazz knew she had found her life's

After taking a cake decorating class 24 years ago, Nina Pascutazz knew she had found her life's calling. So she bought the Sugar Shack, a store that sells cake and candy supplies, and has been living the sweet life ever since.
She said it wasn't easy at first.
"I didn't have a lot of customers back then. I used to sit and play cards with my father-in-law, who used to help me. It was a long struggle, but I was patient," said Pascutazz. "Now I don't really have to advertise because mostly everybody knows the Sugar Shack in Niles after 24 years."
At first, Pascutazz decorated cakes and gave cake decorating lessons at her business, but she no longer has the space there. She now only decorates wedding cakes for customers of Catering by Robynn in Mineral Ridge.
Sugar Shack, which carries cake and candy decorations, chocolate, candy molds, cake pans, brushes and instructional books, has changed buildings four times over the years. After moving to its current location, Pascutazz's daughter-in-law, Kim Ross, asked if she could share the building with her.
Ross, who worked as a lab technician, wanted to sell handmade crafts.
Pascutazz agreed, and today the women share a building, with Sugar Shack at one end and Grandma's Attic, a craft store, at the other end.
Complementary stores
"It's a good combination because our businesses kind of complement each other," said Pascutazz. "She does her crafts and often makes candy and party favors, and if I do a wedding cake, a lot of times Kim will do the flowers for the wedding, so it works very well."
Ross' store, Grandma's Attic, carries consignment items, antiques and collectibles as well as primitive country craft items such as wood decor, candles, tea towels, aprons, curtains, rugs and pillows, most handmade by local artisans. Ross herself specializes in dried flower arrangements, wedding flowers and candy favors.
Ross began working at the store full time after the lab she worked in closed. She said she loves the business and plans to stick with it, but sometimes it's difficult because large retail craft stores can sell imported items at lower prices.
Unique items
"When people can get something imported for $4 or $5, that's what hurts the people who are hand-making crafts here. They have that much money in the wood alone before they even cut it. You're not going to make a million dollars making crafts, they do it for the enjoyment of it. Imports are mass-produced and not as good a quality, where this stuff is unique and one-of-a-kind," Ross said.
Pascutazz's three sons used to help her run the Sugar Shack until they grew up and got jobs of their own. Now, she says, her recently retired husband helps her.
"I'm still hanging in there, probably another 10 years until I consider retiring. If I don't decorate a cake for a week, I'm homesick for doing some decorating," she said.