Family members keep Gorant franchise alive

Relatives of the Gorant Candies founder expand their own retail shops.

By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NILES — Entrepreneurship seems to run in the Gorant family.

Twenty years after Charles Gorant founded Gorant Candies, his nephew and brother-in-law became partners in their own business.

Steve Chelekis, Gorant’s brother-in-law, and Perry Macheras, nephew of both men, became partners in 1969 when Chelekis relocated the store he had opened in Youngstown to East Market Street in Howland.

At that time, Macheras was helping Chelekis in his business and working at the Gorant Candies manufacturing plant in Boardman.

Ten years later, the pair opened a second Gorant Candies of Warren store in the Warren Plaza on Elm Road. 

Both are still going strong.

The Warren Plaza store recently moved to a larger location in the plaza and features a more modern, upscale look for Hallmark stores, said Ed Ridenbaugh, vice president of sales and marketing.

The look includes a solid maple backdrop around the perimeter of the store.

“The Howland store has yet to be renovated,” Ridenbaugh added, “but that may be something we consider doing in the future.”

As descendants of Charles Gorant, Macheras and Chelekis decided they wanted to have the brand in their stores, Ridenbaugh said. They carry a full line of the Boardman-made chocolates.

“Gorant Candies has been a household staple in the Mahoning and tri-county area for many, many years,” Ridenbaugh said.

American Greetings of Cleveland owns Gorant Candies, which operates under the Gorant and Yum Yum Tree names. It also operates the Boardman Gorant production plant.

Gorant founded the company in 1949, but sold the operation in 1986. He died in 2000.

Gorant Candies of Warren are Hallmark Gold Crown stores. They carry Hallmark items such as ornaments, gift wrap, cards and other stationery products. The Gold Crown status allows them to offer special promotions not found in standard Hallmark retail operations, such as this season’s discount on a plush decoration with the purchase of three cards.

They also have products from other vendors, such as figurines from Precious Moments and Webkinz from Ganz.

Macheras saw a need for a similar store in Niles, Ridenbaugh said, which is why he recently opened PMG Chocolatier, a sister store to Gorant Candies of Warren. 

The 5,000-square-foot-store in the Village Center Plaza features the same upscale look as the recently renovated Warren Plaza store. The plaza is located on the corner of U.S. Route 422 and state Route 46.

The size and décor combine to make customers feel relaxed and comfortable, Ridenbaugh said.

PMG is also a Hallmark Gold Crown store and offers Gorant chocolates.

Macheras and Chelekis employ 50 to 60 part-time workers. Each store has a full-time manager.