Kilwins chocolate, fudge, ice cream shop opens second location in Columbus. Take a look
Columbus chocolate lovers will know they’re in the right place once the sweet scent of fudge and other treats hits them as they enter Kilwins’ new Midland Commons location.
The confectionery and ice cream shop soft opened its second Muscogee County store Tuesday in the new development off Flat Rock Road.
Franchise owners Matt and Christy Moore wanted this second location to expand Kilwins’ availability to more customers in the Midland and Harris County community, general manager Crystal Blackwell told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Their first Kilwins shop in Columbus on Broadway opened in 2016, she said, but there were still people in the region that didn’t know it was in Uptown Columbus.
“I’ve had customers coming in every day, and a lot of them were from this Harris County-Midland area, that never get to the Uptown area,” Blackwell said. “So we’re able to reach more of the community.”
The Moores own Kilwins shops in Atlanta, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. Founded in 1947 in Michigan, Kilwins has shops in 26 states.
Outside the shop, customers can walk around and explore Midland Commons. Strings of light illuminate the space in the evening, and a nearby stage makes it a good location for hosting events.
“We’re looking at partnering with some of the other retail stores and restaurants out here to bring some concerts on Friday or Saturday night,” Blackwell said. “And putting on kid-friendly community events and different things to utilize this stage, green space and seating area.”
What to expect
Kilwins has hired 13 employees for the new location and they’re being trained, Blackwell said. More may be hired as business increases.
One of the things Blackwell is proud of is that Kilwins will be many of its employees’ first job, and she has the opportunity to teach new workers skills they’ll need in their future careers and lives.
She asks customers to be patient as the employees learn during this soft opening phase. The grand opening is tentatively expected to occur in about a month.
Kilwins offers an assortment of fudge, chocolates, caramel apples, kettle cooked caramel and peanut corn, ice cream and other treats. Seasonal products and custom orders are available, Blackwell said, and customers can have orders shipped.
About 80% of Kilwins products are made in the store, and customers can see the fudge and other treats being made in the open kitchen.
Blackwell isn’t sure what the exact cooking schedule will be, but expects costumers will get a good chance to see the process on Friday nights and Saturdays during the day.
“It is something that people love to see,” she said.
Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the free samples of the fudge and ice cream when they visit. Blackwell advises first-time customers to try the fudge.
“I always say to sample some fudge,” Blackwell said. “Because once you sample it, you will be buying it.”
