Sweet tooth cravings may now be cured inside the Gainesville Renaissance building located on the Historic Gainesville Square – Kilwins Chocolates opened its doors for business Monday.
“We knew that Gainesville needed something like this – there’s nothing like it in town,” Store Owner Jeff Reid said at the shop’s grand opening Monday evening.
Longtime Hall County residents Jeff and Genia Reed were introduced to the Kilwins franchise while on vacation 15 years ago in Panama City Beach. Kilwins’ slogan ‘Sweet in every Sense,’ struck home with Genia as she remembered her 15-year-old memory vividly, which led to her decision to open the Gainesville location with her husband.
“[Kilwins] was brand new and we went in and I just remember smelling everything and just feeling so good and everything tasted wonderful,” Genia said. “I think to remember that so many years ago just tells you what a fantastic job they do with all the connecting of all the senses.”
Similarly, Jeff described his first taste of Kilwins as an experience that unlocked sweet, rich memories dated back to his childhood, he said.
“I tried an orange cream and I immediately went back to when I was a kid at my grandmother’s house,” Jeff said. “It was that fond memory that brought me back to that moment and I was so glad because my grandmother is passed and it just reminded me of that moment. It was very touching and emotional.”
Like all Kilwins stores, Gainesville’s sweets shop features an open-kitchen where customers may watch candymakers prepare fresh, hand-crafted chocolates, gourmet cakes, 32 flavors of ice cream and dozens of other delectable treats.
Kilwins may be visited during its store hours Monday to Thursday from 10am to 8pm; Friday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm; and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
