Fudge, Caramel Apples, Corns and Brittles: Kilwins now open

From the start, Kilwins has been an interesting project.  Located on the Downtown Mall, the space has long been part of the East Main Streetscape.  At the pre-construction meeting, we were able to get into the crawl space in the front of the building and see the slab that made up the back of the store. No one was sure what was going on under the center section of the building.

After we started the remodel, we found a truly odd floor system.  Working from the top down:

1. Wood floor with no underlayment or floor sheathing
2. 2×4’s standing up with dirt packed between them
3. More dirt
4. Bluestone
5. Concrete setting bed

The renovation also gave glimpses into the original tin ceiling, framing and infrastructure.

Now that the renovations are complete, interest turns to the amazing treats that are coming out of the Kilwins kitchen. All of Kilwins’ fudge is made in-store in large copper pots and poured out onto marble cooling tables based on the recipes of Don and Katy Kilwin developed in 1948. The newest Kilwins is ready to find out how Charlottesville likes its fudge: double dark chocolate, sea salt caramel or cherry cordial. Stop by, try a piece and decide which flavor best captures Charlottesville’s tastes.

Scott Paquette, the Kilwins Project Manager, is very pleased with the store: “The team at Martin Horn, Inc. did an excellent job throughout the project, especially given the challenges and surprises that come along with renovating such an old historic building. I am excited about this location and believe the store will do well. Again, thanks for your service, and congratulations to the Martin Horn team on a job well done.”