FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – One year ago, Kilwins owners Paul and Renee Marinko took a leap and opened the chain’s first Indiana store bringing old-fashioned confectionery such as candy, ice cream and fudge to Fort Wayne.
To celebrate, Marinko, who is a client of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, is planning Kilwins Anniversary Celebration Days with fun activities September 11-14. Festivities will include music on the patio featuring local artists, free samples, customer appreciation cards and drawings.
The Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center released the following:
Kilwins® downtown Fort Wayne, located at 626 S. Harrison St. at The Bradley Hotel, is celebrating their 1-Year Anniversary this September. Paul and Renee Marinko, owners, and the entire Kilwins Team, would like to thank Fort Wayne and surrounding communities for your support during their first year of operation. “We have quite a few fun activities planned Sunday-Wednesday, September 11-14 for everyone to enjoy. All are invited to come downtown and help us celebrate this special milestone,” Paul shares.
Fun activities planned for Kilwins Anniversary Celebration Days focus on customer appreciation and include:
· Drawings for FREE Fudge, Caramel Apples, Ice Cream, Milkshakes, and Hot Chocolate for a Year (one FREE treat a month for a year!)
· Customer Appreciation Buy 9 Get 1 Free punch cards offered to all guests, for Caramel Apples, Ice Cream, Fudge, Milk Shakes, and Hot Chocolate.
· A Caramel Chew (regular or sea salt) FREE with your order for every guest in your party, while supplies last.
· Kilwins Kids Stickers and Kilwins paper hats for kids of all ages.
· Music on the patio featuring local artists, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings.
o Coalition Barber Shop Quartet, Sunday 5:30-7:30pm
o Jacob Dupre, Jazz/RB keyboardist and vocalist, Tuesday 7:00-9:00pm
o Todd Phillips Jazz Trio, Wednesday 7:00-9:00pm
· And on every visit to Kilwins, enjoy free samples of Fudge and Ice Cream
With Fall right around the corner, Kilwins offers a variety of products to celebrate the new season, including “The Perfect” Caramel Apples, made-in-store Caramel Corn & Brittle, hand-paddled Mackinac Island style Fudge, Chocolate-dipped treats, and dozens of other confections that are perfect for any event. Paul says, “It’s exciting to be heading into the Fall season when everything started for us a year ago. It’s also humbling to be part of all the downtown development happening around us with The Pearl, The Landing, The Riverfront at Promenade Park, and more!”
A few fun facts about Kilwins that you may not know: Kilwins Heritage Chocolate is unique, starting with our own roasted and ground cacao beans; it is only available at Kilwins stores, and it is crafted
with a very special flavor profile. Kilwins’ passion for chocolate is behind every taste of Kilwins Heritage Chocolate, following our 75 years of culture and heritage.
Kilwins Heritage Chocolate assortments are made by Kilwins using Fair Trade, Kosher Cocoa and our proprietary recipes. Kilwins Fort Wayne features an open kitchen where customers can view products being made fresh. You’ll find a full assortment of Kilwins Heritage hand-crafted Chocolates, Gourmet Cake & Ice Cream, 24 flavors of Original Recipe Ice Cream, freshly-made Waffle Cones, Hand-packed Ice Cream quarts, and many other treats.
Reflecting on their first year serving the Fort Wayne community, Paul shares, “Thanks to our loyal customers, and friends who have tried Kilwins for the first time, we’ve had the opportunity to support more than 30 charitable organizations in the area and their efforts to make Fort Wayne a fantastic place to live. Our Fort Wayne Kilwins crew is passionate about providing a uniquely local experience for our guests, making every visitor feel special and their experience memorable. We feel blessed to have made it through our first year surrounded by family and an incredible team, and look forward to making people happy for years to come. Thank you Fort Wayne for such a warm welcome to the community.”