BJ Gruling, just days away from retirement, said he is feeling some emotions. “Happiness, sadness and a little bit of relief,” said Gruling, co-owner of Kilwins. He and his business and life partner Richard Clarke call this his second career. “We'll be able to retire and enjoy our retirement years,” Gruling said. Groering and Clark worked in health care before opening their confectionery company, Kilwins, in 2014. Ten years later, it's a bittersweet farewell to the Glendale staple. “What really matters is the customer,” Gruling said. “We have the best customers. They are all very friendly and are our friends. We can always count on them.” The community can also count on Kilwins. The company donated candy to dozens of community events. The last thing scheduled is the Bunny Hop Festival at Bayshore Mall. “We feel like we're more of a neighborhood store, so we see our customers often and we know them by name,” Gruling said. For those customers, a retirement sale will be held until the store closes on March 25th. If he buys two items, he gets one free. The store's products include caramel apples, ice cream, chocolate, peanut brittle, and chocolate-covered Twinkies. “Every time I come, I try one new thing. Today I'm trying the ice cream here, but another day I might try something else,” said customer Harmangit Singh. said. “We had plans to come back,” Gruling added. “Some of them are almost mad at us, but I think they're mad in a good way.”
BJ Gruling, just days away from retirement, said he is feeling some emotions.
“It's a feeling of joy, sadness and a little bit of relief,” said Gruling, co-owner of Kilwins.
He and his partner in business and life, Richard Clarke, call this their second career.
“We'll be able to retire and enjoy our retirement years,” Gruling said.
Gruling and Clark worked in the medical industry before opening their candy shop, Kilwins, in 2014.
It's been 10 years since then, and it's been a bittersweet farewell to the Glendale staple.
“What really matters is the customer,” Gruling said. “We have the best customers. They are all very friendly and are our friends. We can always count on them.”
The community can also look forward to Killwins.
The company donated candy to dozens of community events. The last thing scheduled is the Bunny Hop Festival at Bayshore Mall.
“We feel like we're more of a neighborhood store, so we see our customers often and we know them by name,” Gruling said.
For those customers, a retirement sale will be held until the store closes on March 25th.
Buy 2 items, get 1 free. The store's products include caramel apples, ice cream, chocolate, peanut brittle, and chocolate-covered Twinkies.
“Every time I come, I try one new thing. Today I'm trying the ice cream here, but another day I might try something else,” said customer Harmangit Singh. said. “I had plans to come back.”
“Some of them are almost mad at us, but I think they're mad in a good way,” Groering added.
