Soft Opening for Kilwin's, Newest High Street Eatery

By Amber Lester Friday, December 18, 2009

In his 23 years, Troy Daily has held nearly every job in a Kilwin’s Ice Cream Parlor, including candy-maker and ice cream scooper. Now he can add another title to his resume: owner.

Daily and his girlfriend, Whitney Brown, will open Williamsburg’s first Kilwin’s Ice Cream Parlor in High Street with a soft opening on Saturday. The ice cream parlor joins Movie Tavern and Five Guys to become the third eatery to open in the development.

The Michigan-based franchise has been operating since 1947. Daily’s parents, Brian and Mary, own a parlor in his hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. He started working in their parlors when he was eight years old, handing out fudge samples and inviting passersby on the street to come inside the store.

Daily and Brown both graduated from Michigan State University and now, Daily is following his parents into the sweets business. The couple moved to Williamsburg last month and believes the city is a great location for their parlor. “It’s a great tourist area, it has the college and the water and a good old-fashioned feel,” Troy says. “That’s the kind of candy we sell – old-fashioned.”

What sets Kilwin’s apart from other ice cream chains is the in-house candy-making business, Daily says. The store’s six employees will make fudge, peanut brittle, caramel corn and caramel apples in plain view of the customers inside and outside the store. “You come in and get a free theater show; it’s like we’re performing for you,” he says. “It’s right in front of the windows, so it draws a lot of people in to watch what we make.”

Only the Kilwin’s ice cream and chocolate, displayed in glass-front cases, are made in the company’s franchise headquarters. Daily doesn’t have a favorite item on the menu; he has a sweet tooth for whatever’s cooking. “Whatever I’m making at that time is what I’m eating the most of,” he says, laughing.

Although the store will have to face the double challenge of a tough economy and opening out-of-season, Daily has planned some specials to entice customers into the store. Customers can buy one ice cream and get one free throughout January, and the business will be open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The store is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday; and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.