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An opportunity exists to own the Old Port, Portland franchise for Kilwins – a national purveyor of chocolates and ice cream.  That’s according to signs in the window at 13 Exchange Street in the Old Port that recently appeared.

There is an open house at the “approved site” that runs from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm., despite what signs in the window say. What is unique about this company is that the product is made right on site, requiring special permits from the city.  The permitting process has not been completed according to Joe Benney, NE Regional Development Manager for Kilwins.

There is an unconfirmed rumor that the person who agreed to run the 13 Exchange Street franchise reneged on the deal for health reasons.  That is why Kilwins management is looking for a new franchisee to own the building.  Joe Benney did not return an email responding to this information.

Kilwins has 103 stores in the US.  They are located in the southeast, northeast and mid-west. They open eight (8) stores a year for quality control purposes.  “We are looking for the right person,” said Benney.

For more information on the franchise ownership, please contact Joe Benney, at  (770) 311-7696 or email him at jbenney@kilwinsfranchise.com

Rumors of this move have existed for months now.  Joe Soley, property owner, has confirmed in the past his interest in having the national company in that spot.  It was formerly occupied by the House of Jerky and prior to that Mornings in Paris, a coffee shop that left because of a huge rent increase.  The space has been vacant for over a year now.

Speaking of the House of Jerky, they vacated their ‘down under’ space at 19 Exchange Street at the end of January 2016.   They own a similar business in North Conway, New Hampshire.