Old Mill Candy Kitchen – Pigeon Forge, TN

2 10 2009
  • 177 Old Mill Avenue
  • Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
  • (865) 453-7516
  • Website
  • Menu
Old Mill Candy Kitchen on Old Mill Street in Pigeon Forge.

Old Mill Candy Kitchen on Old Mill Street in Pigeon Forge.

After lunch at the Pottery House Cafe & Grill, we walked around the Old Mill District to see what else they had to offer. At some point, we picked up a coupon book which had an offer for a free piece of fudge if you bought two from the Old Mill Candy Kitchen. Since we were already in the area, we decided to drop in. 

The Old Mill Candy Kitchen reminded me a lot of the candy shops on Mackinac Island. It’s in a tourist district on Old Mill Street and just like any good candy place, they make their creations right in the window so you can watch. 

We looked around the store a little bit to see what else they had. J picked up a jar of peppermint sticks then we went to get our fudge. They didn’t have a huge selection, but they had half a dozen or so including my favorite, Cookies ‘n cream.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories : Candy, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Ryba’s Fudge Shops

27 07 2009
  • PO Box 1410, Main Street
  • Mackinac Island, MI 4974
  • (906) 847-4065
  • Website
  • Menu
Rybas Fudge Shops on Mackinac Island.

Ryba's Fudge Shops on Mackinac Island.

There’s really no other place on Earth where the main purpose of a trip could be to buy fudge.  It wasn’t the main purpose of our trip, but it was a perk that we were looking forward to. 

We put off the actual fudge buying until we were ready to leave.  Had we given in and bought fudge when we got there, we would have been eating fudge all day.  Not a bad thing from a taste perspective, but you know what chocolate and sugar can do to you. 

After eating dinner at The Pink Pony, we started to make our way back to the Arnold Transit Company docks.  We had been debating all day which fudge shop we would try.  It was hard to make a decision because every store had a sign proclaiming “Best Fudge on Mackinac according to the Detroit News.”  Like I mentioned in my post about the Island, they must just rotate every year. 

The store we ended up choosing was Ryba’s.  There are a number of Ryba’s on Main Street.  There was at least three just downtown and I noticed one on the way to the Grand Hotel as well.  The store we actually went into was the one next door to the Chippewa Hotel.  It was the first one we came across and there weren’t many people inside. Read the rest of this entry »


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Spagnuolo’s Chocolate

21 06 2009
  • 115 E. Main Street
  • Owosso, MI 48867
  • (989) 729-9590
  • No Known Website
Spagnuolos Chocolate in downtown Owosso.

Spagnuolo's Chocolate in downtown Owosso.

Leave it to us to find the chocolate shop in town.  On our way to Owosso, we saw billboards for “historic downtown Owosso.”  After eating lunch at the Wrought Iron Grill, we decided to find downtown and see what the billboards were all about.  On our first pass through town, we saw a little candy store that still had an “open” sign lit up.  We went around the block to find a parking spot then headed back for some dessert.

Spagnuolo’s Chocolate has a tiny store front on Main Street.  We parked around the corner where there is some angled parking.  In front of the store, there are some parallel spots, but I didn’t realize that and the walk didn’t hurt us any. 

We walked into the chocolate shop at 3:45…about fifteen minutes before they were set to close.  There was one lady who was already gearing up to close.  We started looking around.  We saw a sign for fudge, but didn’t see any in the case.  The lady noticed we looked a little lost and asked if there was anything in particular we were looking for.  She pointed out the fudge in a basket behind us.  It was already cut and wrapped.  They only had two flavors but one of them was peanut butter.  I grabbed a chunk of fudge and J kept looking. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Downtown, Ice Cream, Local Flavor, Michigan, Owosso, Reviews

Kilwin’s Chocolate & Ice Cream – St. Joseph

11 05 2009
  • 217 State Street
  • St. Joseph, MI 49085
  • (269) 982-1330
  • Website
Kilwins Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop on State Street in St. Joseph

Kilwin's Chocolate & Ice Cream on State Street in St. Joseph

I freakin’ love fudge!  When we took a day trip to Traverse City last fall, we found a Kilwin’s Chocolate Shop in downtown.  That was our introduction to the Northern Michigan chain of stores. 

A Mother’s Day isn’t complete without chocolate and, as luck would have it, there was a Kilwin’s across the street from our brunch destination.  After a good meal and a quick stroll through downtown St. Joseph, we loaded up on fudgey goodness.

The St. Joseph Kilwin’s store is on State Street in downtown St. Joseph just a few blocks from Lake Michigan.  Like most of the other stores, you can watch the candy makers apply their craft in the window.  On the day we were there, one guy was making caramel apples an another was making fresh waffle cones.

The inside of the store smells so good.  Just past the candy making area are the cases of candy.  The first case has the fudge.  This shop didn’t have nearly as many options as the Traverse City shop, but still had two of three flavors I wanted.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chains, Chocolate, Downtown, Michigan, St. Joseph

Messana’s Candy Land – Tinley Park, IL

4 05 2009
  • 7062 183rd Street
  • Tinley Park, IL 60477
  • (708) 342-2244
  • Website
Messanas Candy Land on 183rd Street in Tinley Park

Messana's Candy Land on 183rd Street in Tinley Park

Since we didn’t have enough time to make a trip to my parents house south of Chicago, I talked them in to meeting us for lunch a little closer to the city. It had been over two months since J got a chance to see my niece, so I sweet talked my dad and brother with pizza.  J and I got to the restaurant about 15 minutes before they did and when we pulled in, we noticed a candy shop a couple storefronts down. 

Messana’s Candy Land is near the corner of 183rd and Harlem Avenue not far from I-80.  The store is in a mixed used building that looks to be pretty new.  There are a row of stores on the bottom floor and a few floors of apartments above them. 

When we walked in, we didn’t know what kind of candy store we were walking in to.  It was just before noon on a Sunday and we were the only ones there.  There was a man and a women working behind the counter making popcorn and stocking shelves.  I didn’t really have an intention of buying anything, but some of the things were just too good to pass up.

Like most candy stores, they have some throwback candy that were popular when I was a kid.  J found something she wanted and since she was grabbing some candy, I decided to pick up a package of Fun Dip.  They were reasonably priced at $1.15 and who doesn’t like raw sugar? Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Illinois, Reviews, Tinley Park

Topper’s Pizza

2 03 2009
  • 1219 E. Grand River Avenue
  • East Lansing, MI 48823
  • (517) 203-0303
  • Website
  • Menu
Toppers Pizza on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing.

Topper's Pizza on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing.

Now that it’s NASCAR season again, Sunday’s can get pretty lazy.  When the race is a west coast race, it really gets lazy because the race starts so late, it goes right through dinner.  J and I were hanging out on the couch flipping back and forth between the Shelby 427 and the Illinois vs. Michigan State basketball game.  Once we saw MSU had the game wrapped up, we started thinking about dinner.  J suggested pizza.  I was game.  Once again, we tried Izzo’s Pizzeria in Old REO Town only to find them closed again.  I continued to drive around before I ended up in East Lansing.

Topper’s Pizza is on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing.  The store is fairly new having opened just before Christmas.  Topper’s is a chain out of Whitewater, Wisconsin with locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and North Carolina.  The East Lansing location is the only Michigan location.

The store is pretty small, but there are a couple of tables should want to dine in.  There’s also some leather chairs and a couch  in a little waiting area.  Since I was driving aimlessly, I didn’t call my order in.  I went to the counter to place my order.  I ordered a large cheese pizza and tried to tag on a single order of Cinnamonstix.  The lady taking the order it would actually be three bucks cheaper if I ordered a triple order of Cinnamonstix due to a promotion they had going on.  I didn’t really need that much dessert, but I did it anyway to save money.  After that was hammered out, she asked if I wanted extra cheese since I got one topping on the pizza, I said, sure.  She didn’t have to twist my arm. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, East Lansing, Michigan, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews

Kilwin’s Chocolate Shoppe

20 09 2008
  • 129 E. Front St
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • (231) 946-2403
  • Website
Kilwins Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Fudge is a weakness of mine.  I have a hard time walking by a candy shop where I can see them making it in the window.  After we left The Cherry Shop (review HERE), we continued walking down Front Street.  It wasn’t long before we walked by two guys in the window making candy.  They weren’t making fudge, but they were making caramel apples.  I grabbed J and pushed her towards the door.  When we got inside, my suspicions were confirmed.  They had the most delicious looking fudge in a glass case near the door.

I didn’t know where to start.  I do know I love peanut butter.  I also know I love fudge.  If you put the two together, it should make an incredible confection.  They had a special going where if you bought two pieces of fudge, you got one free.  J wanted a piece of the cherry fudge and since we were going to get a free one, I got a wedge of the vanilla.  Each wedge was a half a pound.  There were no prices posted so I was a little shocked when it rang up at $17, but it was a lot of fudge.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chocolate, Michigan, Reviews, Specialty Shop, Traverse City

The Cherry Stop

20 09 2008
  • 211 E. Front St.
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • 800-286-7209
  • Website
The Cherry Stop in downtown Traverse City

The Cherry Stop in downtown Traverse City

Well, I guess would couldn’t actually go to Traverse City without stopping in one Cherry related tourist trap.  When we were waiting for our meals at The Cooks House (review HERE), I grabbed a Traverse City dining magazine that was sitting on the window ledge.  In it, they had ads and articles for a number of businesses in the area.  J noticed one called The Cherry Store which was just a few blocks from where we were.  We were going to walk around downtown anyway, so we just kept an eye out for this store.

We found the Cherry Store on Front St right in the heart of the downtown business district.  The store is exactly what you think it is.  It’s cherries from floor to ceiling.  Everything on the shelves had cherries in it somehow.  Dried cherries, chocolate covered cherries, cherry salsa, cherry BBQ sauce, cherry Dijon mustard.  If they could figure out a way to put a cherry it in, it was there.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Mac’s Fudge

1 09 2008
  • 570 S. Main St.
  • Frankenmuth, MI 48734
  • (989) 652-6555
  • No Known Website
  • No Menu On-line
Macs Fudge on Main Street in downtown Frankenmuth

Mac's Fudge on Main Street in downtown Frankenmuth

The streets of downtown Frankenmuth are lined with candy shops.  For no particular reason, the one we actually chose to step into was  or Mac’s Fudge.  Mac’s is a pretty small shop connected to the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill’s.  There was a billboard out front that promised nuts and my dad likes cashew’s so I think maybe that’s why we picked it.  Problem is, once we got inside, we totally forgot about the nuts.

Like most of the places in Frankenmuth, there’s an area where you can watch candy makers make fudge.  While we were there, no one was making fresh fudge as there was only one person even working.  She was helping another couple choose from their huge variety of favors.   Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chocolate, Downtown, Frankenmuth, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews

Caruso’s Candy Kitchen

4 05 2008
  • 1982 Grand River AveCaruso's Candy
  • Suite 712
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 347-0200
  • Website
  • Menu

Everyone loves chocolate and my family is no different.  My parents were in town recently and we went to Meridian Mall to do a little shopping.  On our way to Younkers, we went by a little candy shop where a choclatier was hand dipping chocolate in the window.  My mom and girlfriend went in to see what the store was all about and not long after, I followed after seeing a soda fountain the back of the store.

The shop is pretty tiny.  Like I said, there’s a place off to the right when you walk in where you can watch the employees hand dipping just about anything into chocolate.  To the left, there’s a couple big display cases where they show off their hard work.  To the back of the store, there’s an old timey soda fountain where they serve a full menu on sandwiches, soups, and salads.

This isn’t your normal chocolate shop.  Instead of seeing a lot of fudge and homemade peanut butter cups, what you actually see is a lot of things dipped in chocolate.  They do some of the traditional favorites.  My mom got some peanut brittle along with chocolate covered cashews for my dad.  My girlfriend got chocolate covered gummy bears or “muddy bears” as they’re called.   I got a chocolate covered Twinkie.  Everyone loved their selection….except me.  I don’t know if it was a Twinkie knockoff, if it got stale, or if the chocolate changes the flavor, but it really wasn’t that good.  The muddy bears were so good, I had to melt some chocolate when I got home and we made our own because what she got at the mall wasn’t enough.

I sorta wished I had gotten a soda, but maybe next time.  That was the part of the store that I really gravitated towards.  Just seeing a working soda fountain brought back a few memories.  I’m not old enough to know of soda fountains in there time, but there were a few leftovers in the early mid-80’s when I was growing.  I have memories of going grocery shopping then going to the drugstore for a soda.  Not sure why I passed up this opportunity, but I’m looking forward to going back again.  Caruso’s has been in business since 1922 in their oringal location in Dowagiac, MI.  They’ve opened this second store in Okemos, but have brought along the 70+years of experience.


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Categories : Candy, Local Flavor, Michigan, Okemos, Reviews