Owner Of Summit's Sweet Nothings Has A Sweet Tooth For Community

SUMMIT, NJ — Since 2005, sisters Donna Pezulla and Elisa Brooks have teamed up to bring sweetness to the Summit community with their chocolate and candy shop.

In honor of Women's History Month, Patch has decided to feature Sweet Nothings — a woman-owned business that has become a staple for providing joy and delicious chocolates to the Summit community.

Pezulla said her and sister were born and raised in Summit and wanted to remain a part of the community by starting a business in their hometown.

"We didn't want to be anywhere but in Summit," Pezulla said. "We're the perfect partnership being sisters. Our skill sets really complements each other."

Because of their mutual love for all things chocolate and candy, Pezulla said it was her vision to recreate Sweet Nothings — which was an existing business in Summit run by different owners before the sisters took over.

"We felt that chocolates and candies and confection made us very happy, and others very happy as well, so it just seemed like a natural fit to create this business ..." Pezulla said.

Pezulla explained that she often partners with other female-owned businesses to create many of the products she sells in the store.

"We're really passionate about working with who we feel is best in the industry," Pezulla said. "If it happens to be a female, then that's a bonus."

When asked if there are any women business owners in the Summit area that inspire her, Pezulla said there are so many, it's hard to just choose one or two.

She said Antoinetta LaVecchia who runs the UPS store is "simply amazing" and is someone Pezulla often collaborates with. LaVecchia specifically helps Pezulla with an autism outreach effort that she does every April.

Other local women business owners she mentioned were Eileen from Beauty Lounge, Alexandra Kilby from Silver Lining Jewelry Boutique and Bonny Neiman from GreatHouse. She said all of them are very inspiring in their own unique ways.

Besides the decadent chocolates and candy gift baskets that the store offers, Pezulla said she thinks the number one thing that separates Sweet Nothings from other businesses is the connection she and her sister make with customers in the community.

"I think the connection that we've created here is what's really special," Pezulla said. "Since we do have a lot of sweets in here, we have children that come in, and we are very fortunate that we get to watch these kids grow up and they become part of our lives."

For people looking to purchase some tasty treats for Easter coming up in April, Pezulla said her chocolate bunnies have been a customer favorite for years. Sweet Nothing also sells "smash eggs," which Pezulla explained are chocolate eggs that come with a hammer. You smash the egg to reveal a special surprise inside.

See an image of the smash eggs below:

You can check out more of Sweet Nothing's Easter treats and chocolate moldings on their Instagram page and website.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.

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