Quix Chocolate to Open New Shop in Former Kilwins Spot in Downtown Ann Arbor

Belgian chocolates, Illy coffee, and Guernsey Farms ice cream coming to Liberty Street this summer

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Quix Chocolate, a Ferndale-based chocolatier, is taking over the former Kilwins storefront on E. Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor. The new shop is set to open on July 1, 2026, and will offer Belgian-style chocolates, Illy coffee, hot chocolate, and Guernsey Farms ice cream. Quix has signed a five-year lease on the roughly 1,475 square foot space and plans to invest $200,000 to $250,000 in renovations before opening.

Why it matters

The opening of Quix Chocolate in the former Kilwins spot continues the tradition of dessert shops in this high-traffic downtown location. The new shop is expected to cater to the steady flow of students, residents, and visitors in the area, potentially outperforming Quix's existing Ferndale location. This move also represents Quix's continued regional expansion, with the Ann Arbor shop joining the brand's existing storefront in Ferndale and a concession at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The details

Quix Chocolate is taking over the two-unit, 1,472 square foot space previously occupied by Kilwins, which closed at the end of 2025 after around 42 years in business. Quix plans to remove an interior wall and invest $200,000 to $250,000 in mostly cosmetic upgrades before opening. The new Ann Arbor shop is expected to create about six jobs and operate seven days a week, stocking more than 40 varieties of hand-finished Belgian-style chocolates along with Illy coffee and Guernsey Farms ice cream.

  • Quix Chocolate is aiming to open the new Ann Arbor shop on July 1, 2026.
  • Kilwins closed its downtown Ann Arbor location at the end of 2025 after around 42 years in business.

The players

Quix Chocolate

A Ferndale-based chocolatier that is expanding to downtown Ann Arbor with a new shop offering Belgian-style chocolates, Illy coffee, and Guernsey Farms ice cream.

David Ogloza

The owner of Quix Chocolate who is overseeing the expansion to Ann Arbor.

Kilwins

A longtime candy and ice cream shop that previously occupied the E. Liberty Street space in downtown Ann Arbor before closing at the end of 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Ann Arbor's blend of students, year-round residents and game-day crowds creates the kind of foot traffic that could help this location outperform Quix's Ferndale shop.”

— David Ogloza, Owner, Quix Chocolate (Crain's Detroit Business)

What’s next

Quix Chocolate says it will share staffing plans and details for a formal grand opening as the July 1 target opening date draws closer.

The takeaway

The arrival of Quix Chocolate in the former Kilwins space continues Ann Arbor's tradition of having a dessert shop in this high-profile downtown location. Quix's European-inspired offerings and focus on quality ingredients could appeal to the diverse mix of students, residents, and visitors in the area, potentially making this new location more successful than the brand's existing Ferndale shop.