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Joann's Story

 

Joan and Frank Nephew opened the first Joann's Fudge Store on Mackinac Island in 1969 in a building located next to the old McNally Cottage. One year later, a second Joann's Fudge Store was opened in a historic building in the center of Mackinac Island's downtown and in 1980 a third location was added in Mackinaw City. 

Today, Joann's Fudge is a third generation family business that continues Joan and Frank's commitment to providing high quality products. We pride ourselves on the smooth and creamy texture of our fudge. To obtain our world famous taste, our fudge is slowly cooked in traditional copper kettles over a gas flame. Once the desired temperature is reached, the mixture is poured onto marble slabs for a cooling period and then hand paddled into loaves. We only use fresh heavy cream and butter in every batch of fudge and pure ground cocoa beans in all our chocolate flavors. Joann's Fudge does not contain any preservatives or powdered ingredients.


Joann's Fudge II next to Mighty Mac


Joann's Fudge


Joann's Fudge II


The first Joann's Fudge: 1969


Joan & Frank Nephew


Reunion for Joann's Fudge Employees in 2012

Ben, Nir and Paul

Window of Joann's II next to Mighty Mac (around 1970)

Inside of the second Joann's

Dale Gregg, Fudge maker

End of the year crew in 1975 (showing Joan and Frank and Cheryl Nephew)

Former Employees

Hannah and Lisa

Nic, Vittaly, Jess, Vesna, Lianne, Joy and Suzette


Kathy Kauffman and David Nephew


Brent Wright, Fudge maker


Larry Senn, one of the first fudge makers


Crew with the Silver Streak outside of Joann's


Kathy Kauffman


Larry Senn and David Nephew