FUDGE SHOPS
windows attracting visitors strolling down Main Street.
Overhead exhaust fans also blew the sweet smell out into
the street luring customers into the store. This marketing
strategy has not changed in 60 years.
Sanders Fine Chocolates began in Detroit back in 1875
when Fred Sanders borrowed a barrel of sugar to start his
first chocolate shop. With candy stores located all over the
region, Sanders found its way to Mackinac Island where
two beautiful stores follow Fred Sanders’ original philoso-
phy; to provide premium confections at a fair value.
Joan and Frank Nephew opened their first Joann’s Fudge
Store on Mackinac in 1969. A second store was opened the
following year and a third in 1980. Today, Joann’s Fudge is a
third generation family business that continues Joan and
Frank’s commitment to providing high quality products.
All the Island fudge shops market their fine freshly made
candies, caramel corn, chocolates and fudge using vari-
ous methods, but fudge is still made the same way. Fresh
heavy cream, real butter and fine quality sugar is heated
in copper kettles to a specific temperature. Then, the hot
creamy mixture is flavored and poured onto thick mar-
ble slabs to cool. Skilled candy makers then paddle it as
it thickens and cools into a long loaf shape. Then, a sharp
knife cuts 1/2 lb slices and almost immediately is sold to
onlookers. Try some, it’s what Mackinac is famous for!
Most stores, such as SANDERS FINE CHOCOLATES, offer
free samples and what a great way to find your favorite
kind and flavor among the numerous fine candies they
have to offer.
JOANN’S FUDGE is another f ine candy maker on
Mackinac who offers gift certificates and online ordering.
Now you can order more fudge from home. There’s noth-
ing better than the sweet smell of freshly made fudge, so
why not indulge and buy a box or two.
MAY’S FUDGE, has been making fudge for five genera-
tions. During war times, sugar rationing caused May’s to
open at noon to a waiting line of customers who were
limited to a purchase of one pound of fudge. These days,
hundreds of pounds of fudge are made every day to keep
up with the demand for Mackinac’s favorite souvenir.
Watching the fudge being made at MURDICK’S FUDGE
is a real experience. The smell of the delicious confec-
tionery, as it cools on a big marble slab, is blown into the
street enticing many a sweet tooth to come and sample
a flavor.
RYBA’S FUDGE SHOPS knows that it’s nearly impossi-
ble not to notice the sweet aroma of fudge wafting out
of their store and into the streets. You are welcome to
watch them make fudge at one of their four downtown
locations. While there, try some of their delicious caramel
corn, salt water taffy and the buttery English toffee too.
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Inside Mackinac
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