The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — Kilwin’s manager Heather Ashburn dipped Rice Krispies squares into rich, melted chocolate — a favorite sweet treat of many Villages residents.

“I am chocolatizing them,” Ashburn said Thursday while she continued to work at the confectionery.

Chocolatizing?

“Yes, chocolatizing is a word,” she said, smiling. At least it is a popular word — and a common occurrence — at the candy shop located at 1108 Main St. on Spanish Springs Town Square.

“We chocolatize Rice Krispies treats, Twinkies, Oreos, pretzels, Nutter Butter cookies, and dip them in all different kinds of chocolate and decorate them,” she said.

Ashburn has found that chocolatized Rice Krispies treats sell well, and so do chocolatized Twinkies.

She noted that dark chocolate is now hailed as a “good-for-you” healthy treat, and she has discovered that little sweet indulgences tend to make customers smile.

“Moderation is the key, right?” she said. “I’ve found you don’t have to talk people into anything around here.”

Maybe it’s the free samples that are too tempting to resist. Or the gorgeous display cases of chocolates, fudge, caramel apples, truffles and ice cream. Even Ashburn admits she is sampling — and enjoying — more chocolates now than ever before.

The young, thin blonde (who’ll turn 20 in October) recalled she started working at Kilwin’s four years ago in St. Augustine for owners Jerry and Lisa Dallaire. After the Dallaires chose to open a shop in The Villages, Ashburn moved up the ranks of the business and was asked to be the manager. The shop opened its doors April 14 in The Villages.

“This is a wonderful area,” she said. “Everyone is really nice, friendly, and I love having the regulars that come in. I can name 10 people, who, if they walked in right now, I would know what they would want. Some of them come in three and four times a week, and you can tell from the smiles on their face that coming here makes them happy, too.”

Some Villagers have adopted Ashburn as if she were their daughter or granddaughter. Others tell her about their grandsons that they would love for her to meet.

“It’s flattering,” she said.

Kilwin’s is open 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We have become such a nighttime store,” she said, noting that Villagers and visitors often stop by after enjoying the nightly music and dancing at Spanish Springs Town Square. “Once the music ends at 9 p.m., we get a rush. And on vendors’ nights on Monday and Wednesday, these nights are busier, too.”

She has found residents often choose the dark chocolate candies, and they love ice cream with nuts.

“My favorite is the praline pecan and that is a really popular one,” Ashburn said. “Another popular one is the turtle cheesecake ice cream. It’s good-quality, cheesecake-flavored ice cream with praline pecans rolled throughout with little miniature caramel-filled turtles.”

Butter pecan ice cream and pistachio nut are popular, too, she said. Kilwin’s also carries sugar-free ice cream and candies.

Ashburn is looking forward to being in the shop during the winter season, when Villages snowbirds are in town, including Ted and Muriel Dallaire (parents of owner Jerry), who are Villages snowbirds from Maine.

The elder Dallaires love Kilwin’s confections, which they proudly shared during the shop’s opening.

“Once they’re back, we won’t be able to keep them out of here,” Ashburn said, grinning.

And that’s OK. It’s good for the candy business.

Theresa Campbell is a senior features writer with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9260, or theresa.campbell@thevillagesmedia.com.