For 50 years, Mr. Fudge’s Confectionary has been a cherished cornerstone of historic Metamora, serving up creamy fudge, crunchy peanut brittle, and a nostalgia that draws visitors from near and far. As the shop celebrates its golden anniversary, it gears up for Strawberry Days this weekend, a vibrant festival bursting with fresh strawberry treats and community spirit. Behind the sugary delights lies a story of resilience, family, and a business that rose from the ashes of a devastating fire, fueled by the heart of a tight-knit town.
The confectionary’s journey began in 1975 in the Duck Creek area, when Sid Ekdale and his wife Annabelle opened the shop, crafting treats with love and precision. In 1981, Donna Monroe took over, her passion ignited at age six by her grandparents’ peanut brittle. “I thought, ‘I’d love to learn how to make peanut brittle someday’” she recalls. Starting as a server, she worked special occasions, growing into her role. By 1981, after graduating, she began crafting fudge, a skill that became her hallmark. When Sid passed away, he left the business to Donna and her husband. After her husband’s passing, Donna carried on, making the shop her livelihood.
Housed in a building with a storied past, Mr. Fudge’s began as a livery stable in the 1800s, tied to the Martindale house, before becoming a garage. Its World War II-era glass and vintage milkshake machines evoke a timeless charm. The shop’s fudge is the undisputed star, a fan favorite that flies off the shelves. When asked about the most popular item, the answer was straight forward.
“Peanut Butter Fudge,” Monroe said. Hands down.”
On September 27, 2024, disaster struck during a stormy night tied to hurricane level winds, which caused power outages across Metamora’s wooden, historic structures. Connie Ragler of nearby “Grannie’s Cookie Jars and Ice Cream Palor” noted the power had gone out.
When power was restored, a fire—likely sparked by an electrical outlet—erupted. “Three of us came out the door,” Ragler said. “Most of us turn and looked, and it’s like, oh my gosh, and I took off around the corner.”
Connie, checking her shop’s freezers, spotted flames from her home and made the first 911 call around 7:30 p.m. Members of the community sprang into action, calling 911 while locals grabbed fire extinguishers to battle the blaze. The Brookville, Metamora and Laurel Fire Departments arrived to contain the blaze and limit the damage “It could’ve been worse,” Connie reflects.
The fire destroyed all the candy stock, including 55 boxes and containers prepared for Canal Days. An insurance investigator assessed the damage the following Monday. Contents were evaluated by Thursday, and the rebuild began after Canal Days. Determined to keep the shop’s spirit alive, Donna sold Buckeyes, cookies, and brownies made at a third-party location. Her sister and friend Kayla pre-packaged treats to meet the community demand for her products.
By December 7, 2024, just 12 weeks after the fire, Donna reopened the front of the shop in limited capacity for the Christmas Walk. She attended daily, refusing to let the setback stop her. To manage, she blocked off the damaged back area, and her niece and her niece’s partner sold sweatshirts, earrings, pens, and mugs during the eight-day event, ensuring visitors didn’t see the unfinished repairs. The back, where she crafts her candies, was fully restored by the first week of May 2025, coinciding with the shop’s founding month 50 years earlier. The fire, in an unexpected way, allowed for upgrades she had long wanted, including fresh paint, new flooring, and updated electrical systems. The exterior was revamped with new paint and metal siding to protect the wood, though she’s still deciding whether to keep the moss-covered shingles out front, which customers adore, or switch to metal.
Replacing vintage fixtures posed challenges. Two of the three matching lights above the soda fountain survived, but finding globes for the wagon wheel fixtures was difficult, as they are no longer manufactured. A longtime employee, who once worked with Sid, sourced replacements online. The community’s support extended beyond the immediate response, with Brookville and Metamora organizing a benefit to provide financial relief until insurance paid out. Donna’s sisters initiated a GoFundMe page, despite her initial reluctance, emphasizing the need to cover living expenses and bills. Church members and strangers alike rallied around her, reinforcing the shop’s deep roots in Metamora.
Strawberry Days, with its tent pitched beside Mr. Fudge’s Confectionary, features season strawberry shortcake at the Martindale House. Monroe will provide chocolate-covered strawberries, along with Strawberry Sundaes, Shakes, Sodas, Malts, and Lemonade. The festival, following by “I Love Metamora Days” over the fourth of July weekend and with Canal Days on the horizon, keeps Metamora’s calendar filled.
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