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Oprah's Departure Leaves Some Businesses Still Thriving

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- As Oprah pulls up stakes in Chicago, some of the companies that saw their profits go up because of Oprah are still basking in the limelight.

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Oprah's favorite things became the world's favorite things.

In November of 2005, Moveable Feast and its Deeply Fudgey Brownies made Oprah's magic list.

"Literally the moment she said, 'Moveable Feast, Geneva,' the phone started ringing off the hook."

Matt Lennert and his wife Kim own Moveable Feast and he says Oprah's mention meant a windfall for the 2005 holiday season and for the entire next year.

Profits and lots of brownies sold.

"I don't like to usually give numbers, but I mean, we were doing thousands of pounds a day during that first holiday season."

Another favorite was Garrett Popcorn, three times named Oprah's favorite. Garretts is expected to survive without Oprah.

"But there is that additional layer of celebrity when you have somebody of her stature advocating for your city that we'll all be missing going forward."

Garrett Popcorn CFO Scott Schroeder called Oprah's favorites list the equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

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