Kilwin's Ice Cream Experience

[Bobcuse]

We have lived here for 10 years and have tried all of the various ice cream parlors over the years and loved Kilwin's hot fudge sundaes. So last evening at 6:30 we loaded up the grandkids and drove 20 minutes to Kilwin's. There was a line for ice cream as expected but only one young lady working and she was busy making cones and working the register. When our turn came, we started by ordering two hot fudge sundaes and she immediately said " we don't have hot fudge available because I just plugged it in". I asked how long before it would be ready and she said about 20 minutes. The kids opted to have cones rather than wait so we ordered vanilla (all out), cookies & cream (out), cookie dough (out), choc & peanut butter (out), choc almond (out), regular chocolate (out). With everyone frustrated and disappointed, we left and went to our 2nd choice which was Haagen Dazs where they had everything and the prices were the same or lower. Obviously we expect issues when the population is as it's peak during Easter Break, but having one employee working and being out of most flavors was unexpected and disappointing especially after driving out of our way with a carload of visitors. Haagen Dazs it is for us in the future!

[JourneyOfLife]

I would not be too happy if I had to wait in a long line to figure out they were out of the main products they serve. You would think someone would put a temporary sign to warn customers.

Why did she plug in the hot fudge if there was no vanilla ice cream?

I might give them a second chance... but after that, I would not bother with them.

It is pretty easy to find good ice cream.

[graciegirl]

In every life some rain must fall.

I am Grace and I am addicted to Publix Rum Raisin.

[cquick]

isn't that funny....I didn't even know there was an ice cream place called Kilwin's and we've been here for 1 1/2 years! I looked them up online just find that they are in Spanish Springs. :girlneener:

[skip0358]

Grandaughter was down last week. She wanted her favorite Kilwins so we went. Only to find half the flavors out of stock, oh not until Wednesday they said. No waffle cones or sugar cones either. Only dishes. Wow this stinks Popie she says lets go to Peachwave instead. Not a good sign, I've never seen that before.

[batman911]

Looks like a classic case of management not managing.

[LndLocked]

That location of Kilwin's has had several different owners .... looks like it will have another before long.

[cwnavy1]

Give Mystic Ice Cream on 466 A down in Fruitland Park a try. Kind of a strange place, reminds me of hippie type places 30 years ago, but great ice cream, even a bunch of "adult" ice creams made with real alcohol. Nice ambience too.

[Warren Kiefer]

We have lived here for 10 years and have tried all of the various ice cream parlors over the years and loved Kilwin's hot fudge sundaes. So last evening at 6:30 we loaded up the grandkids and drove 20 minutes to Kilwin's. There was a line for ice cream as expected but only one young lady working and she was busy making cones and working the register. When our turn came, we started by ordering two hot fudge sundaes and she immediately said " we don't have hot fudge available because I just plugged it in". I asked how long before it would be ready and she said about 20 minutes. The kids opted to have cones rather than wait so we ordered vanilla (all out), cookies & cream (out), cookie dough (out), choc & peanut butter (out), choc almond (out), regular chocolate (out). With everyone frustrated and disappointed, we left and went to our 2nd choice which was Haagen Dazs where they had everything and the prices were the same or lower. Obviously we expect issues when the population is as it's peak during Easter Break, but having one employee working and being out of most flavors was unexpected and disappointing especially after driving out of our way with a carload of visitors. Haagen Dazs it is for us in the future!

Try Ollies, very reasonable prices, large servings and most of all that old fashioned frozen custard is wonderful.

[baustgen]

Go to Ollie's

[LndLocked]

Give Mystic Ice Cream on 466 A down in Fruitland Park a try. Kind of a strange place, reminds me of hippie type places 30 years ago, but great ice cream, even a bunch of "adult" ice creams made with real alcohol. Nice ambience too.

hippie place you say ... I will have to check that out!

[2BNTV]

Too far from TV but this thread has reminded me of Jackson's in Ft. Lauderdale. I can't wait to get there and see what new flavors they have.

Has anyone tried Jackson's?

[Chazz]

Kilwin's toasted coconut...yummm!:eclipsee_gold_cup:

[BogeyBoy]

Give Mystic Ice Cream on 466 A down in Fruitland Park a try. Kind of a strange place, reminds me of hippie type places 30 years ago, but great ice cream, even a bunch of "adult" ice creams made with real alcohol. Nice ambience too.

+1
+1
+1
+1

Oh, am I repeating myself? Must have had more adult ice cream than I should have. Our usual comment when we stop there, "Honest officer, I just had two ice creams."


BTW - it is Mystic Ices and Creams. And when you go you will see my picture on the back wall, meaning I am a repeat customer who got to spin the wheel.

One last comment - the owner does magic tricks for the customers.

[USCGretired]

I like Malts, I have tried three times at Kilwins over the last 6 months...they never have Malt! Ollie's is good but sometimes I want real ice cream not custard.

[ilovetv]

I used to enjoy Kilwins at other places on vacation. Here, I've had ice cream there twice in the last 2 months and the whole thing was sub-standard. From the long line with only 2 teens working, to the tubs of ice cream ALL looking half melted with scoops taken out and then thrown back in and mushed around (looked liked leftovers thrown back in), to the dirtiness of the display glass and framework.....to the poor quality ice cream. This Kilwin's is at death's door. Haagen Daz is good, and so is the fresh, low-fat lime/pineapple/orange frozen yogurt at Ambrosia.

[mac9]

Another vote for Mystic!!!!:clap2:

[missypie]

In every life some rain must fall.

I am Grace and I am addicted to Publix Rum Raisin.

Just wait until you try my Carvel Rum Raisin Ice Cream......

[LndLocked]

Abide

http://cdn2.tauntr.com/sites/default/files/Dude-Icecream2.jpg

[Scoops]

Too far from TV but this thread has reminded me of Jackson's in Ft. Lauderdale. I can't wait to get there and see what new flavors they have.

Has anyone tried Jackson's?

OMG! Jackson's in Dania was one of my favorite haunts when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. We always went for the kitchen sink. Mmmmmm good.

[Mack184]

Go to Ollie's
Where is Ollie's?

[Serenoa]

Can't wait to retire, move to TV, and find that all I have to complain about is my ice cream shop being fresh out of mint chocolate chip.
Oh, the horrors!

[SusanOfWoodbury]

I have been in there several times and have found, no hot fudge, out of flavors, one employee working and prices are too high... I moved to the Villages 7 months ago and was shocked there were only a couple of ice cream places.

Tonight driving home on rt27/441 I was thinking this would be a great site for an ice cream business.....

Like a Friendly's

[Russ_Boston]

Like a Friendly's

Most Friendly's went out of business about 2 years ago. At least in New England.

[Warren Kiefer]

Where is Ollie's?

Ollies is located in the strip mall across from Lowes on highway 27/441..
You will enjoy it..

[wendyquat]

We visited Mystics for the first time this evening (hic)! I had the Baileys and hubby had a Mounds cream. Although there are many flavor choices It's all real (homemade)ice cream with no low fat or low sugar choices so its not a place we can visit often! The portions are large ($6) each and when we do go back we will share! The place is full of Beatle Mania and lava lamps and very friendly!:mmmm:

[DougB]

Give Mystic Ice Cream on 466 A down in Fruitland Park a try. Kind of a strange place, reminds me of hippie type places 30 years ago, but great ice cream, even a bunch of "adult" ice creams made with real alcohol. Nice ambience too.

We are all a little older than we like to admit. Hippie type places were actually about 45 years ago! YIKES!

[geri317]

I am from New England. In April, the ice cream stands opened and were busy, busy, busy till Fall set in. When I moved to Florida, I imagined there would be lots of ice cream stands open year round. Much to my dismay, there are basically no ice cream stands anywhere. Florida is missing out on a gold mine. We want ice cream!!!!

[graciegirl]

I am from New England. In April, the ice cream stands opened and were busy, busy, busy till Fall set in. When I moved to Florida, I imagined there would be lots of ice cream stands open year round. Much to my dismay, there are basically no ice cream stands anywhere. Florida is missing out on a gold mine. We want ice cream!!!!

Missy Pie? Hear that?

[wendyquat]

I guess I don't know what an ice cream "stand" is. What I've seen here is: kilwins, mystics, ambrosia, Ollie's, Chis, High Five, Peachwave, Coldstone, Haagen-Daz PLUS Sonic, several McDonalds and Wendys and a Steak and Shake that all sell some form of "ice cream"! What else could you ask for?



Ambrosia at Lake Sumter is my personal favorite!

[mfp509]

Being from CT, I know the Ice Cream Stands well. Yes, one in our town would open around Easter and was crowded all summer. You would order at the window and sit outside at picnic tables - what fun! Something to look forward to after the winter. It was as much a sign of spring and summer as the robins arriving!!

[delima2000]

They closed coldstone near lowes, friendly's is closed the closest one is in Orlando and the Dairy Queen in wildwood is closed. Would love to see a Dairy Queen here. love Ollie's tastes like the frozen custard we had in Michigan. Don't care for the frozen yogurt places here to expensive. They charge by weight.

[Bonny]

They closed coldstone near lowes, friendly's is closed the closest one is in Orlando and the Dairy Queen in wildwood is closed. Would love to see a Dairy Queen here. love Ollie's tastes like the frozen custard we had in Michigan. Don't care for the frozen yogurt places here to expensive. They charge by weight.
We had 2 Dairy Queens, they are both closed now.

[Russ_Boston]

Don't care for the frozen yogurt places here to expensive. They charge by weight.

Yes, they do but with the choices you get it is a much more 'personal' taste than you get elsewhere. No, it's not high milk-fat ice cream (i.e. Kilwins) but it gets the job done for me. Costs me around $8 for my wife and I at Peachwave. (Did you notice they are opening their second TV location in the new Pinellas shopping center?)

[zonerboy]

Hi Five and Peachwave are frozen yogurt.
Ollie's is frozen custard.
Don't know if the stuff you get at McDonalds or Wendy's qualifies as ice cream or not.
The nearest Coldstone is in Ocala.
I agree Kilwins has really gone down hill.
So, yes, we could really use a good ice cream store.

[archerlc]

Went to Kilwins twice for this flavor. Both times the container was in the case but empty. The girl said-our biggest seller. We expect a shipment next week. We wondered- why not order extra if you are always out?

[SannyTX]

I am from New England. In April, the ice cream stands opened and were busy, busy, busy till Fall set in. When I moved to Florida, I imagined there would be lots of ice cream stands open year round. Much to my dismay, there are basically no ice cream stands anywhere. Florida is missing out on a gold mine. We want ice cream!!!!

I'm also in New England. I think New England has the highest per capita consumption of ice cream in the US. The ice cream stands here are well known and often used as landmarks as in "go past Kimball Farms about a mile..." or "turn right at King Cone" or "if you pass Ericksons you've gone too far." Yummy stuff!

[jblum315]

Hi Five and Peachwave are frozen yogurt.
Ollie's is frozen custard.
Don't know if the stuff you get at McDonalds or Wendy's qualifies as ice cream or not.
The nearest Coldstone is in Ocala.
I agree Kilwins has really gone down hill.
So, yes, we could really use a good ice cream store.

I just learned of Mystic Ice Cream (32 flavors of homemade ice cream). It is on the eastern end of 466A, past the turnoff for Micro Racetrak RD.but not as far as the post office, in a little strip mall on the right going east They are open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night.

[travelguy]

we need a rita's water ice. they have the best custard also. a philadelphia tradition!

[Leslie]

HighFive has fat free and lowfat frozen yogurt, frozen sorbet and frozen custard. Smoothies, shakes, malts...will make yogurt pies to order .

[Mudder]

SannyTX, why did you have to mention Kimball Farms, used to go there alot !

[Raen Dear]

Funny. I went to Kilwin's for an after-massage hot fudge sundae last week and they were out of hot fudge!!! And warm carmel, from the looks of the container. Lots of empty ice cream containers; girl in front of me wanted rasperry sorbet and they had none. Obviously management is not paying attention. No salted caramel either and that was listed on the display as one of their top 10 choices. Settled for butter pecan!! Oh, well.

[SannyTX]

SannyTX, why did you have to mention Kimball Farms, used to go there alot !

LOL! Kimball Farms is the best of the best!

[Mack184]

Funny. I went to Kilwin's for an after-massage hot fudge sundae last week and they were out of hot fudge!!! And warm carmel, from the looks of the container. Lots of empty ice cream containers; girl in front of me wanted rasperry sorbet and they had none. Obviously management is not paying attention. No salted caramel either and that was listed on the display as one of their top 10 choices. Settled for butter pecan!! Oh, well.
If they make their own..they're not making enough, and if they order it from a dairy then they are not ordering enough. And that's hardly the clerk's fault. Definately management is not managing.

[chuckinca]

We went into Kilwin's tonight (Friday 4/5) for some fudge. Only one female 18 YO clerk and about 30 unhappy customers. Kilwin's has been a business mainstay in Spanish Springs for many years - wonder why it is going downhill so fast?

.

[bgonzen]

I sent an email to Kilwins several weeks ago conveying the problems of this store and I never heard one word from them!!!!

[Mikeod]

LOL! Kimball Farms is the best of the best!

Do they still have chocolate chip with HUGE chunks of chocolate in it?

I remember the commotion in the car when the three of us in the back seat saw the place coming up. Please Dad! Please Dad!

What a nice memory. I rarely post about places I used to go to "back home" but this place is worth it.

[Happinow]

I have been in there several times and have found, no hot fudge, out of flavors, one employee working and prices are too high... I moved to the Villages 7 months ago and was shocked there were only a couple of ice cream places.

Tonight driving home on rt27/441 I was thinking this would be a great site for an ice cream business.....

Like a Friendly's

We were shocked at there being no SOFT ice cream stores, like real rich, creamy ice cream. It's Florida for goodness sake. Up north, in the frozen tundra, we had 4 super great soft ice cream stores all within about 4 miles of our house. We really miss the soft ice cream too!

[graciegirl]

Tried to call them to ask what the problem is and to respond on here if they could.

Not opened yet.

Where did you send your email to, bgonzen?

[KathieI]

We went into Kilwin's tonight (Friday 4/5) for some fudge. Only one female 18 YO clerk and about 30 unhappy customers. Kilwin's has been a business mainstay in Spanish Springs for many years - wonder why it is going downhill so fast?

.

This is so sad to me. Remember what happened to our beloved Brusters, the owners were members of TOTV and they had to close down on Rt 42. I hope they can pull Kilwin's out of this downtrend.

[thekeithfan]

About three years ago we had guests in and so we took them to dinner. After dinner we were at the Spanish Springs Town Square showing them what goes on everynight and they decided to buy us an ice cream cone there. My friend had a twenty out for 4 cones. NOT ENOUGH! It was almost embarrassing because I'm telling them how wonderful and inexpensive The Villages is! Well haven't been there since. When I have grandkids in we stop at Burger King (yes Burger King) we all get cones or Sundies for a buck and then go to the Square.