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Our History

The first Murdick’s Candy Kitchen opened on Mackinac Island in 1887, the same year the Grand Hotel opened. Newton Jerome (“Rome”) Murdick and his wife, Sara, developed and perfected the recipes and process of cooking fudge in copper kettles, pouring the fudge onto marble slabs to quickly cool, and then gently folding the fudge until it set. This process allowed for a very smooth and creamy concoction.

Their sons carried on the trade going to the mainland and opening other shops as well as going to state fairs in the Midwest making and selling their fudge. By the 1920’s, Murdick’s Fudge was renowned and they registered the Tradename “Murdick’s Famous Fudge.”

Celeste Murdick’s father, Francis “Fran” Murdick, along with her grandfather, Jerald “Jerry” Murdick, operated Murdick’s Famous Fudge in Charlevoix for many years. Celeste (Murdick) Perron and her husband, Leon, opened Celeste Murdick’s Fudge in 2005 in downtown Charlevoix. Celeste learned the art and science of making the world’s best fudge from her father, Fran. Their daughter, Nikki, having learned from her father, Leon, is now the fifth generation master candymaker in the Murdick clan. You can see Nikki making her delectable fudge daily in their shop on Bridge Street in the heart of downtown Charlevoix. Stop in for a free sample and savor what generations of folks have been enjoying since 1887.