Wilton Candy Kitchen
The Wilton Candy Kitchen is a historic shop in Iowa selling candy, ice cream, and snacks, founded in 1910. The building still contains original fixtures including a marble soda fountain from 1927, glass lamps, a stamped tin ceiling, and vintage booth seating with mirrored walls.
The building was constructed in the mid-1800s and originally housed different businesses including a clothing store, tobacco shop, and the town post office. Gus Nopoulos took over the vacant space in 1910 and opened an ice cream and candy shop that has operated continuously since.
The Candy Kitchen took its name from Gus Nopoulos, who opened the shop in 1910 and made it a gathering place for families. The shop has served as a social meeting point for generations, where people stop in after school or work to connect with neighbors.
The shop is located on Cedar Street in Wilton and is easily reached via Highway 38. Visitors can enjoy classic ice cream creations and handmade candies in an authentic setting, plus a small museum showcasing the town and railroad history.
The original marble soda fountain was installed in 1927 and updated in 1951, while the stamped tin ceiling dates to 1913 and gives the space a nostalgic feel. Gus Nopoulos spoke only two words of English when he arrived, yet he successfully built the business into a multigenerational family enterprise.
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