I LOVE THIS STORE!!! THIS IS A MUST STOP BY STORE IF YOUR EVER IN MACKINAW!!! DID YOU KNOW MACKINAW HAS ITS OWN CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY!!!! Yup, Charlie the owner of Fort Fudge still makes his candies with the spirit of love even after major heart surgery! I believe this is one of the LAST places to get authenctically made MACKINAW fudge, why, especially when they all make it in house... because Charlie and his associates make it with the spirit of love!! (No they are not oompa loompas, I checked) :) Charlie IS EVERY BIT AS AWESOME AS you would expect the movie Charlie to be!! Matter a fact I live on Sault saint marie Michigan, and anytime I go below the bridge the ONLY reason I stop in MACKINAW is to see Charlie!!! I feel like an 7 year old kid when I go into his store he has his own artifact cabinet!!! Ask him about the goofy looking rocks in his glass cabinet!! You will learn some really cool history!! Did you know that electric cars existed in 1916 (sorry Charlie If I got the date wrong). Ask him about his electric model T (IT IS NOT A MODEL T LMAO!! HE ALWAY CORRECTS ME SO SWEETLY) ... I think I am remembering it is a Henry? I'm not googling it!! I will ask him :)... Any who!!! I go into this shop like a 7 year old who MUST STOP In to see an old friend. Charlie works because Fort Fudge is his Souls purpose and I can see it in his eyes. He does not NEED to work there he LOVES to be there! Charlie is the spirit of MACKINAW!! He loves the history, ESPECIALLY INDIGENOUS history (which I favor), he loves his store, but most of all he loves YOU!! He is there because he WANTS TO BE, he is open ALL YEAR round not for money, but because he doesn't want to miss ANYONE that may stop in and visit him :)... Charlie has had Major heart surgery and he still chooses to be there every single day because he absolutely loves what he does and you can tell because the spirit carries through the store. Personally I believe he has people working with him so the candy keeps getting made as he tells his customers all of his fascinating stories about his artifacts :) .. and they do an amazing job at it, sorry to the beautiful young lady I did not finish my conversation with we will speak again :). Charlie reminds me of the true spirit we possess on Northern Michigan!! Pure love for the people that are willing to stop by and say Hi!! Charlie may you always be PROSPEROUS so you can continue to do your souls mission, Chi Miigwetch for showing all of us love one day at a time!! You are genuinely appreciated by this customer!! I will always stop in a visit you!! Chi Miigwetch for all that you do for your community!! I know you have genuinely loved it everyday of your life!!
Loved stopping here with the family! Loaded up on fudge to bring home to Ohio for family, got the kids some popcorn and rock candy, taffy and some souvenirs as well 😁 beautiful store, and had fun listening to the gentleman behind the counter tell us about the Bigfoot show he had seen. He is a kind soul and I would definitely recommend this shop to anyone looking for a great place to visit!
Best place for fudge if you can't get to the Island. We stop here every year to get some fudge for our landlord and it's never been disappointing. There are more things than just fudge here, like T-shirts, model sailboats, sweatshirts, and other souvenirs. The people running the shop are very accommodating and they do make their own fudge--and judging from the stomach ache I get from eating a little, they use the best cream, butter, sugar and other ingredients to do so. (I'm lactose intolerant.) We come to this shop every time we visit family, if we can.
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