The Ozenkoski family of St. Peters had long-dreamed of running a family-owned business. 

When Christi and Brent saw that their favorite general store in Brussels, IL was selling an old-fashioned soda fountain, they decided the time was right to open a soda shop in St. Charles. 

The family bought the soda fountain equipment including an antique soda fountain from the 1940s, candy counters from the 1920s and a cotton candy machine from Cleveland Ballpark. 

"We've always wanted to do a family-type business, that's why we're doing this," she said. 

They chose the name "Little O's Soda Shop" because Christi will be primarily running the shop. "My husband's nickname is Big O."

The couple's four kids have their Littlest O nicknames written on their aprons. 

"The kids have just had a ball," she said. 

The shop offers oldtime phosphate sodas, rootbeer floats, milkshakes, candy and Ozenkoski's gooey butter cake. The recipe goes back four generations and has been served in two family-owned bakeries. 

Little O's Soda Shop is located at 125 North Main Street, Suite 101 and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.