March 29, 2024
Local News | Kane County Chronicle


Local News

Geneva's Mia's Wish offers skin care products made with passion

New shop opens on South Third Street

GENEVA – Maria Jucius had always wished that she could operate her own retail store along downtown Geneva’s picturesque South Third Street shopping district.

“It’s just a magical place. Very special,” Jucius said. “You can feel the history.”

That wish has come true, with the opening of Mia’s Wish, where Jucius offers customers handmade skin care products from her new location at 17 S. Third St.

It took time, hard work, perseverance and a bit of luck to make her wish come true.

A couple of years ago, Jucius, of Plainfield, entered a “Battle of the Pop-ups” contest at the Bolingbrook Promenade shopping center.

Jucius detailed her product line and presented a business plan, including a store layout, and emerged as the contest winner. Her prize was a free six-month lease on a retail space at the shopping center.

Even with the free rent, Jucius entered the retail world with a sense of trepidation.

“Start-ups are so risky,” Jucius said.

But customers loved Jucius’ handmade, therapeutic skin care products so well that the start-up proved to be a success.

So, when the opportunity presented itself to branch out, Jucius knew exactly where she wanted to open a second store.

Virtually all of the products at Mia’s Wish are formulated and produced at home by Jucius herself.

“I put a lot of love and passion into my products,” Jucius said. “I only make them when I’m in the best of spirits. I believe there is a transfer of positive energy.”

From handcrafted soap bars to jars of body butter, the Mia’s Wish product line is composed of plant-based formulations that are designed to condition, heal and rejuvenate.

“I’m a healer. I like to heal people. That’s what keeps me going,” Jucius said.

There are no fillers in any of the products.

“Every ingredient has a benefit,” Jucius said. “You have to know the value of each ingredient.”

Jucius makes products that are both therapeutic and indulgent.

There are herbal remedies including a muscle rub, a joint gel and an eye cream. Essential oils extracted from plants produce wonders when a few drops are added to a bath. There’s even an all-natural deodorant.

For sheer luxuriance, there is a bubbling bath soak which provides the benefits of sea salt.

Perhaps the foundation of the Mia’s Wish line is the selection of handcrafted soap bars.

Some of the soaps have names describing the ingredients, such as “Almonds and Goat’s Milk.” Others have more whimsical names, like “Crisp Mountain Air” and “Mr. Masculine.”

Why Mia’s Wish?

“I always wanted to be called Mia,” Jucius said.

Mia’s Wish is located at 17 S. Third St. in downtown Geneva.

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. More information is available by visiting https://www.miaswish.com.