FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A new ice cream and dessert shop is getting ready to opened up in downtown Fort Wayne.

The Michigan-based chocolates, fudge, and ice cream maker, Kilwins, will feature an open kitchen where customers can view products being freshly made. It offers an assortment of Kilwins Heritage Chocolates, Gourmet Cake & Ice Cream, 24 flavors of Original Recipe Ice Cream, and Mackinaw Island fudge – which you can’t find anywhere else locally.

Owners Paul and Renee Marinko say they wanted to bring the Kilwins experience to Fort Wayne and give back to the community.

“When we decided to bring a Kilwins to Fort Wayne for us it’s very much a family locally owned business. We knew it was a special place because of our own experiences. but it really is our goal to kind of meld into the community. We definitely want to give back to the community and Kilwins is all about that,” said Paul Marinko.

Marinko said the store is unique because it takes you on a trip.

“Kilwins is really like going on a vacation in your hometown. I mean that’s the best way to describe it. You’re going to activate all your senses: sight, smell, sound, taste. It’s going to capture it all when you come to Kilwins. And uh, yeah, it’s just like going on a vacation.”

Regular business hours will be every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Marinko explained the soft opening is just to get the doors open. A grand opening party will start on October 20th.