Keep in mind that when Janet & Phil Dykstra launched their dream of Kilwin’s Chocolate, Fudge & Ice Cream Shop in downtown St. Joseph 19 years ago they were both already retired from several decades of service to Indiana Michigan Power Company. When they flipped the switch to turn on the “open” sign even they might have been hard-pressed to realize that 19 years later they’d be still going strong and setting an amazing pace.
Kilwin’s of St. Joseph is one of those destination attractions that never seems to fade from the scene in any manner. In the nineteen years that Kilwin’s has been in business they have established some pretty remarkable milestones along the way.
Staff members compiled the data and shared a congratulatory card for the Dykstras that shows the impact they have had on the community of Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Since first opening on State Street in the central business district of St. Joseph on April 1, 1998, Kilwin’s of St. Joseph has topped 2.5-million customers…served 1-million waffle cones filled with their wide array of ice cream flavors…crafted 187,000 caramel apples and sold more than 11,000 pounds of chocolate fudge alone…that doesn’t get the peanut butter, or maple or vanilla, or any other flavor – just chocolate!
In the 6,940 days that they busy logged between opening day and their 19th anniversary, over the 228 months in business, there have been 120 employees including one dedicated worker since day one – Anne, and, of course, the two stellar, proud owners – Janet & Phil Dykstra.
The shop at 217 State Street has won many people’s choice awards over the decades, and continues to be a destination attraction in the heart of downtown St. Joseph.
They are notorious for remaining open, literally until the last customer has been served, regardless of the hour – many times staying well beyond posted hours and even opening and closing several times well after hours because somebody arrives in the last seconds of operations. They never want to disappoint a customer, so they always remain open until the last customer has been served night after night.
It’s a track record that many business enterprises can learn a few lessons from along the way. Congratulations on 19-years of excellence and counting.
