A WORLD OF PURE
Imagination
For forty years, locals and visitors have been following their sweet tooth to the Island Fudge Shoppe. BY BARRY KAUFMAN
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PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
Cast your mind back to your happiest childhood memories. Those salad days that linger in the back of your mind, waiting to be dusted off when you’re feeling nostalgic, don’t they always just smell a little sweeter? Those days you’ll never forget, don’t they carry with them the hint of slow-simmering chocolate, pralines dusted with sugar and the exhilarating aroma of candy? If you’ve been around the island long enough, your treasured childhood memories might just smell like that because they were formed in the quaint surroundings of The Island Fudge Shoppe. For 40 years, they’ve been serving locals and visitors alike with a dizzying array of sweets, from prepackaged treats to sugary delights made right in front of your very eyes. “A lot of times parents will come in with their kids thinking they’re going to get something for the kids, but really they’re getting something for themselves,” said Gus Robinson, who has owned The Island Fudge Shoppe for the last 32 years with his wife Maureen. “And sometimes the kids will come in just to grab free samples, but that’s OK,” added Maureen. “They usually bring the parents back with them.” 24
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It’s hard to stay away, to be honest. Even if your childhood wasn’t enhanced by visits to The Island Fudge Shoppe, stepping in is the next best thing to reliving those delicious days. A throwback in every sense of the word, the towering stacks of candy surround you when you walk in, tantalizing the senses and ensnaring the sweet tooth with a kaleidoscope of tasty delights. Behind, on top and within the wide counter a bewildering blend of fudge flavors presents a difficult decision – do you go with the classic chocolate, dabble in some peanut butter or tempt yourself with one of the seasonal varieties like red velvet, pumpkin or key lime? Why not take advantage of the long-standing policy of offering free samples as well as “buy four slices get the fifth free.” Feel free to use the coupon in this magazine. “People like that because they can pick out different flavors. I know I couldn’t pick a top three, so it helps to narrow it down a little,” said Gus with a laugh. But don’t fill up on the fudge. You have to save room for the iconic chocolate alligator and of course some of those famous pralines.