Chicago was once the candy making capital of the world. At that time, E J Brach & Sons, now known as Brach’s Confections, Inc., was arguably the nerve center for manufacturing in the city.

Into Brach’s enormous, multi-floor, red brick manufacturing plant on Chicago’s near West Side flowed raw materials on truck and train, and out flowed truckload upon truckload of hard candy. The 24/7/365 plant employed hundreds and buzzed with activity and innovation and excitement. As a young sales rep calling on Brach back in the ’80’s, I quickly got caught up in the excitement.

Flash forward to yesterday. I was heading into the Loop on the train and noticed the Brach plant, now abandoned. Weeds were growing through the cracked asphalt of an empty parking lot the size of a city block. Concrete crumbled from the hollow frame of the once bustling factory, reminding me of the disintegrating rib cage of skeleton. Where humble sales reps like myself once threw themselves at the feet of imperial buyers in their majestic, oak-paneled office suites, there were now only dust and echoes.

Though Brach Confections continues operations in other areas, it is only a lonely relic here in Chicago. Fifteen years ago, I never would have thought it possible. It was unimaginable.

In business things can change quickly, or unexpectedly, or both. Owners, managers, and employees should always be considering every option, even impossible options. Impossible options can sometimes be all too real.