Login | April 03, 2025
Local biz marks second anniversary highlighting charitable contributions and formation of new partnerships
On Feb. 7, Sweet Memories Vintage Tees & Candy Chief Executive Officer Linda Barton and six employees gathered at the company’s Trumbull Avenue retail store in Girard, Ohio, for a ceremonial check presentation to Akron Children’s Hospital in the amount of $20,040.25. The figure represented total donations made to Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in 2024. Pictured here from the left are Barton, Sweet Memories Marketing Director Sammie Gurd, Sweet Memories Graphic Design Assistant Raine Shepherd, employees Stephanie Hitt and Linda Thomas, Sweet Memories Graphic Designer and General Manager Abbey Hennessey and employee Sonya McKelvey. (Photo courtesy of Sweet Memories Vintage Tees & Candy).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 27, 2025
A Trumbull County business that emerged during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic recently marked the second anniversary of its retail store by holding a multi-day celebration in early February highlighting its charitable contributions to the community and new partnerships.
On Feb. 7, Sweet Memories Vintage Tees & Candy Owner and Chief Executive Officer Linda Barton and six employees gathered at the Trumbull Avenue location in Girard, Ohio, for a ceremonial check presentation to Akron Children’s Hospital in the amount of $20,040.25.
The figure represented total donations made to Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in 2024.
Akron Children’s Associate Major Gifts Officer Jillian Chahine was on hand for the event.
The gathering was just one part of a three-day customer appreciation weekend commemorating the February 2023 opening of the store, which specializes in officially licensed, vintage-inspired T-shirts and apparel that honor the legacy of some of the country’s most iconic ice cream and candy brands, including Marpro’s marshmallow cones made in Cincinnati since 1936.
“We are the largest woman-owned manufacturer of officially licensed ice cream and candy apparel in the USA that supports charities,” said Barton.
“A portion of the proceeds from each of our product lines benefits local and national charities,” she said.
“Akron Children’s Hospital saved my daughter’s life when she was young, and I hope our donations help them do the same for others,” Barton said. “Room 247 in the NICU at Akron Children’s Boardman campus is now named the ‘Sweet Memories Room.’”
Paul Olivier, vice president of Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley Enterprises, expressed gratitude for Sweet Memories’ support.
“The dollars they have raised directly impacts patients in our neonatal intensive care unit, which provides the highest level of intensive care to sick and premature newborns,” said Olivier in an emailed statement. “We thank Sweet Memories for its commitment to our mission and the babies who we care for every day.”
Barton originally launched Sweet Memories to sustain her screen-printing business after her sports marketing company was forced to close due to COVID-19.
This after she discovered that Good Humor was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Founded in Youngstown in 1920, Good Humor is known for inventing ice cream on a stick and unveiling the very first ice cream truck.
“I thought creating a T-shirt would be a great way to raise awareness since I love history, and these were world-changing inventions from Youngstown,” she said. “I reached out to Unilever, the owner of Good Humor, to obtain the rights to create anniversary T-shirts.”
Unilever, which supports women-owned businesses, granted Barton a one-year exclusive licensing agreement to produce the apparel.
Inspired by the opportunity, she decided to make Sweet Memories a charitable enterprise, pledging to donate a percentage of sales to Akron Children’s NICU.
During COVID-19, Barton said she was fortunate to receive corporate referrals and word-of-mouth support, which led to a surge in contracts.
“One phone call literally saved my business during the pandemic,” she recalled.
In May 2022, Barton purchased the Trumbull Avenue building where the store is located. She invested over $1 million in renovations and inventory before officially opening Sweet Memories Vintage Tees & Candy in 2023.
Today, Sweet Memories has licensing agreements for over 100 iconic brands.
Some of these include Klondike, Breyers, Swiss Miss, PEEPS, Tootsie Roll Industries, Bazooka Candy Brands, PEZ, Jiffy Pop and The Idora Park Experience, among many others.
Sweet Memories has also expanded its charitable contributions to include organizations such as the Franciscan Friars in Youngstown, Meals on Wheels of Mahoning County, Trumbull Mobile Meals and The Idora Park Experience. However, Akron Children’s remains its largest beneficiary.
Since its inception in 2020, Sweet Memories has raised over $66,500 for the hospital’s NICUs in Mahoning Valley and Akron.
As part of the Feb. 7 celebration in Girard, the store offered “Buy One, Get One Free” T-shirts and unveiled its recent collaboration with Cockeye Creamery in Warren, Ohio, featuring free samples of the store’s new ice cream flavor, “It’s Electric.”
Additional giveaways marked the launch of the company’s new Mentos T-shirt collection and Marpro Marshmallow Tee Line on Feb. 8-9, with free samples and raffle baskets for attendees.
“I am incredibly proud that our company not only helps preserve the history of nostalgic brands and childhood memories but also supports local and national charities through our sales,” said Barton.
In addition to a diverse selection of T-shirts, the retail store has multiple candy stations featuring Daffin’s chocolate, nostalgic and retro sweets, Japanese and English imports and unique novelty items such as a PEZ wall and the latest in TikTok trends.
“When people walk in, they stop and stare in awe,” Barton said. “As they browse, they reminisce, saying, ‘I remember these! I remember these!’”
With the growth of Sweet Memories, Barton said the store is now a destination for customers, drawing visitors from hours away.