As people appear on the College of William and Mary’s campus once again to decorate dorms, prepare for classes and reunite with friends, an important question arises: where will students flock to find a sweet treat?
“There’s nothing William and Mary students love more than ice cream,” Olivia Kerr ’27 said in a message to The Flat Hat.
Tyler Ellison ’28 added the benefits of this sweet.
“You can never go wrong with it. It’s flexible and reliable, it can work alongside other desserts, and it’s just such a staple that you can basically find it anywhere,” Ellison said in a message to The Flat Hat.
Anywhere indeed — ice cream is incredibly easy to find in Williamsburg. While Center Court, the dining hall at the Sadler Center, offers soft serve ice cream, its machine is often out of service. Students at the College have to search for alternatives for their ice cream fix — and there is no shortage of options in the area
“It’s great to have so many ice cream shops walkable to campus,” Tommy Soffronoff ’27 said in a message to The Flat Hat.
A popular spot is Prince George Street, a short walk from the Sir Christopher Wren Building. This street is home to not one but two ice cream shops, serving up cold relief from the heat of Williamsburg in August.
“I think it’s very funny how they’re both so close to each other,” Ryan Booker ’28 said.
In fact, Baskin-Robbins and Kilwins, the two stores, sit almost directly across from each other, allowing the sweet smell of sugar to permeate the street between them. However, despite their obvious similarities, specific differences stand out.
First of all, Baskin-Robbins is a chain, meaning its diverse range of flavors feels familiar. As such, it’s a popular choice for profit shares with Recognized Student Organizations at the College.
“I’ve definitely been to more [profit shares] involving Baskin-Robbins, and I think it’s really cool having organizations in W&M interact with the larger Williamsburg community like that,” Ellison said in a message to The Flat Hat.
Getting ice cream is a social event, which is why it’s also important to consider other factors when choosing which place to stop by to grab a quick treat.
“I think that seating would play a role, because I know that Baskin-Robbins has more inside seating, whereas I think Kilwin’s has a little bit more outside seating,” Booker said.
While reliability points go to Baskin-Robbins, Kilwins takes the cake on variety. Known for different sweets in addition to ice cream, they offer alternatives for those who may have dairy restrictions but don’t want to miss out on the group adventure. Their sorbets are particularly popular.
“It’s maybe a little bit more expensive, but it feels worth it. I especially appreciate how many sorbets they have for especially hot days. I like to get raspberry sorbet or sea-salt chocolate caramel,” Soffronoff said in a message to The Flat Hat.
Price is an important factor too. Neither store accepts dining dollars, so students are extra cognizant of costs as they embark on their ice cream searches. Kilwins has a reputation for being the more expensive of the two options.
“It’s a bit expensive, and at least Sadler has the soft serve, which isn’t as good as a good scoop of ice cream. But I’m not trying to spend a bunch of money,” Clare Osberg ’28 said.
Despite the prices, Kilwins is still thought of fondly by students at the College.
“It’s more of a Williamsburg staple,” Osberg said. “It definitely feels more upscale, like Colonial Williamsburg vibes versus Baskin-Robbins, which feels obviously more like a chain.”
Students emphasized this sense of novelty. With Kilwins being a less prevalent chain than Baskin-Robbins, oftentimes, students only associate Kilwins with Williamsburg. This makes it a unique option when at the College.
“I didn’t realize Kilwins was a chain for a while,” Kerr said in a message to The Flat Hat.
After weighing all the important factors, students still struggle to pick a favorite ice cream shop. In fact, Booker thinks having both options contributes to short wait times and good experiences.
“I think they both are great in their own right,” Booker said. “I feel like it’d be easier on both stores if they’re not super crowded after some sort of event or that kind of thing.”
With multiple demographics to serve, it’s true that just one store might not be able to keep up with the ice cream needs of the area.
“Between the Williamsburg humidity, tourists and college students, there’s plenty of demand to support both!” Soffronoff said in a message to The Flat Hat.
Remaining true to the College’s love of dualities and ampersands, students’ ultimate ice cream consensus is that both Baskin-Robbins and Kilwins are essential fixtures in Williamsburg.
