DUBLIN--Veteran business owners Ernie and Stephanie Malas say it was an opportunity they couldn't let slip by. 

They first discovered the Kilwins franchise while on a family vacation in Florida, and the rest is history. 

  • Kilwins old-fashioned confectionery is a chain that's on the rise 
  • The company has two franchises located in Ohio, the newest in Dublin's Bridge Park complex

“And the kids absolutely fell in love with the product and the ice cream, it just really became part of every trip that we took. We just have so many family memories and knew that it was something that we wanted to bring to our hometown of Dublin,” says owner Stephanie Malas. 

Kilwins Dublin has been open a little over a year and is located in the Bridge Park complex.

 

 

The chain is based out of Michigan and has more than 100 locations across the United States..including one in Beavercreek. 

Malas says Kilwins' hand crafted creations are made every week using recipes that have been around for generations. 

“One thing that makes Kilwins standout and unique is that we do all of our production during store hours. The kitchen is in the front of the store. Don and Katie Kilwin started Kilwins in 1947, and we're still using a lot of their original recipes today. We don't have a microwave or oven or a stove, we have this big old fashioned copper kettle and we're still hand crafting these delicious sweets how they did 70 years ago,” says Malas. 

The Dublin Convention and Visitors bureau also deemed Kilwins “Irish Approved,” meaning they carry things that represent the city all year round, including a special ice cream flavor. 

“Here in Dublin we have an ice cream call Muirfield Mud. Vanilla Ice Cream will Kilwins caramel and then chunks of chocolate,” says Malas. 

Ownership say the business has been well received in the community and they look forward to future expansion. 

'There's a lot of living and entertainment and restaurants and walking. We've been very well received and actually right before Christmas we opened up and added indoor seating. We're getting ready to open a second location in the Short North later this spring,” says Malas. 

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