LEESBURG, VA — Downtown Leesburg has a new place to satisfy a sweet tooth. Kilwins Ice Cream & Chocolate has opened at 17 South King Street, bringing handmade fudge, chocolates, caramel apples and ice cream to the heart of the town’s historic shopping district.
The shop celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 8.
For owner Nancy Carter, opening Kilwins in Leesburg has a personal connection. Carter grew up in Michigan, where the Kilwins brand originated, and wanted to bring the candy-making traditions she remembers to her new business.
“It feels magnificent to be open as we have conversations each day with guests who feel the same way,” Carter said.
One of the shop’s main attractions is its open kitchen, where customers can watch candy being made. Fudge is cooked in traditional copper kettles, hand-paddled and cooled on marble tables. The store also makes its own caramel for apples and other treats, along with caramel corn and brittle.
The shop offers a selection of handcrafted chocolates, including truffles and specialty confections.
For ice cream lovers, Kilwins serves scoops and sundaes, including its Chocolate-on-the-Inside Waffle Cone. The freshly made waffle cone is coated on the inside with warm chocolate before being filled with ice cream.
Carter said Leesburg customers have already shown a preference for certain flavors.
“Anything sea-salt caramel has been a hit with Leesburg,” Carter said highlighting the sea-salt caramel apples, sea-salt fudge, and of course the peanut butter Buckeyes.
The opening adds another specialty food business to South King Street, where locally owned shops, restaurants and historic storefronts help draw residents and visitors to downtown Leesburg.
Kilwins’ open-kitchen setup also gives visitors something beyond the usual candy shop experience, allowing them to see how traditional confections are prepared.
Carter said she is looking forward to becoming more involved in the Leesburg community as the business settles into its downtown location.
Kilwins Ice Cream & Chocolate is located at 17 South King Street in Leesburg. More information about the company and its products is available at www.kilwins.com.
