This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Wyckoff Screams for Ice Cream

Kilwins opens first tri-state area ice cream and candy store in Wyckoff

Area residents have been screaming with excitement over ice cream, fudge and candies since the opening of Kilwins in Wyckoff.

“We weren’t sure how the area would respond to us but we have been busy since we opened on May 6th,” said Kilwins owner Mary Lou Triana. “I think that so many people from this area vacation in Florida, they knew the name and were excited to have us in town” she added.

Triana’s love of chocolate and yearly visits to the Kilwins in Ft. Lauderdale was the impetus for the Franklin Lakes resident to open the tri-state area’s first Kilwins store in Wyckoff. “I love chocolate, I enjoy talking to people and handling something you love makes it a fun job,” she reflects.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Nate Milbank of Wyckoff is a regular at the Wyckoff Kilwins but his loyalty began as a child when he first enjoyed the homemade ice cream with his grandparents in Florida. “When I came home from college my mom surprised me with a trip here and I was like wow , Kilwins right in my neighborhood.” said Milbank.   

Milbank’s favorite picks: homemade peanut brittle and Traver City Cherry ice cream. Customers can choose from 32 flavors of homemade ice cream.  Locally, the top three best sellers are Wyckoff Mud, Toasted Coconut and Cappuccino Chocolate Chip. “The Wyckoff Mud is a blend of vanilla ice cream with an explosion of chocolate chips and swirl of caramel” said Triana.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The front window of Kilwins is a popular attraction for passerby’s to watch apples being dipped in caramel or the fudge being paddled in large copper bowls. “The fudge recipe is the original recipe from 1947. Hand paddling makes it creamy and almost pudding like, “explains Tirana.

Founded in 1947, Kilwins first opened as a bakery in Petoskey, Michigan by Don and Katy Kilwin. The couple soon added ice cream, fudge and chocolates. The homemade confections became so popular that the bakery portion was sold. In 1981, the first franchise became available for purchase and there are currently about 85 stores.

“Everything is homemade either here or in the Michigan kitchen. It looks like a scene from I Love Lucy with all the ladies hand making the chocolates,” laughs Triana.

A portable ice cream cart is available for rental. According to Triana, the cart can hold 6 flavors and the rental includes set-up, clean-up, cones, cups and a server. “We have served Kilwins at weddings, birthday parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and community events,” said Trinia.

There are daily specials at Kilwins including today’s free ice cream cone toppings.

Kilwins joins 3 Chicas, Giovanni’s Restaurant and Wyckoff Delicatessen as an epicurean destination at the Wyckoff Shopping Center.

Kilwins is located at 637 Wyckoff Ave. For more information and the list of daily specials visit www.kilwins.com

Store hours:

Monday to Thursday and Sunday

11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday

11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?