We all know that there are few things more American than apple pie. Well, there are few things more Floridian than Key lime pie. The dessert was invented in Key West and has earned the title of Florida's official state pie. Whether you want to try this unique treat for the first or millionth time, you have to try a slice from this world-famous shop and restaurant in Key West.
If, like many Floridians, you're on a lifelong quest for the best slice of Key lime pie, this Key West shop definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list.
Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe was founded in the Old Town historic district of Key West more than 20 years ago. Since then, this adorable, brightly-colored shop has garnered quite the reputation, with awards and recognition from everyone from the Food Network to National Geographic.
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Kermit's is also home to a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner for hungry locals and tourists.
Plus, the shop has a lovely tropical patio with a small waterfall and a tranquil koi pond that serves as the perfect place to relax and take a break from the buzz of the city.
The most important part, of course, is the Key lime pie. Kermit's version is a real crowd-pleaser, smooth and creamy, with just the right balance of sweetness and lime. Equally famous are the slices on a stick that are frozen and dipped in delicious Belgian chocolate. After all, you can't leave Key West without trying Key lime pie!
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There's so much more than pie, though. Serious fans of Florida's favorite citrus will be in Key lime heaven, with products including Key lime sauces, salsas, candies, cookies, soaps, lotions, and more.
Thanks to years of growing popularity, Kermit's has now expanded to a second location on Duval Street in Key West and a third location in DeLand that doubles as the production kitchen and warehouse for all of the non-pie Key lime products.
You don't have to travel to one of these shops to try their famous Key lime pie, though. Whether you want to try it for the very first time or send the edible gift of wonderful Key West memories, Kermit's pies and other products ship all over the U.S. and Canada.
To order some of Kermit's Key West Key Lime pies or some other wonderful Key lime products for yourself or your favorite Key lime lover, check out the online selection at keylimeshop.com. (Keep in mind that the pies have to be shipped overnight with a special process in order to be sent around the country, which can be pricey, depending on where you live.)
Have you ever visited Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe? What shop or restaurant do you think serves the best Key lime pie in the Sunshine State?
This Candy Store In Florida Was Ripped Straight From The Pages Of A Fairytale
Sweet Pete’s Candy in Jacksonville, Florida, offers a whimsical, fairytale-like experience with over 1,000 types of sweets and interactive candy-making classes.
It’s not hard to fall in love with a candy store that boasts 23,000 square feet of candy, sodas, and more. Sweet Pete’s Candy in Jacksonville, Florida, has been deemed The Sweetest Destination on Earth and featured as one of the best candy stores in America. But what makes this shop so special is not the size or the history but the sweet treats you’ll find inside. Enter this massive candy store in Jacksonville and get ready to indulge!
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This Victorian mansion superstore of sweets known as Sweet Pete’s Candy is a behemoth, not to mention three full floors of candy time fun.
Plus, the retail areas and the Dessert Bar are also worth perusing.
Choose as many different types of candies, fudges, and ice cream as you’d like.
Also, sign up for an interactive candy-making class!
You can learn all the tips and tricks regarding lollipops, taffy, and soda-making!
So, when you feel your sweet tooth coming on...
...head on over to Sweet Pete’s Candy in Jacksonville, Florida, for a whimsical experience straight out of a fairytale.
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Have you ever visited Sweet Pete's Candy before? What was your experience like at this massive candy store in Jacksonville? What are some of your favorite candy shops in FL? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Also, if you want to keep this sugar rush going, then make sure to visit the Sweet Pete's Candy website or Sweet Pete's Candy. on Facebook.
Ready to keep exploring the Sunshine State? Head on over to these yummy chocolate shops in Florida, perfect for a day trip adventure.
Thinking about taking a vacation soon? Then consider booking your flight via the Dollar Flight Club.
If you’re still in the mood for more Sunshine State adventures, take a look at this video:
There are certain culinary creations that not only define a place -- they *are* the place. Word enthusiasts know this as synecdoche. We're talking about Maine lobster rolls, Texas barbecue, Kentucky bourbon, or, in the case of Florida, key lime pie. Bright and fruit-forward, there's no Florida dish quite as iconic as key lime pie. And there's no Florida bakery more associated with this iconic dish, than Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe.
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More than 29 years ago, Kermit Carpenter began selling smoothies from a small stand in front of Papa’s Restaurant in Key West, Florida, during his tenure as Papa’s bookkeeper. When the head chef suddenly decided to call it quits, Carpenter took it as an opportunity -- not an obstacle. He discussed the opportunity with his sister Anita and her husband John, and the trio decided that whatever they decided to do, it needed to not only capture the spirit of Key West but also have Key West as part of its very name. And with this little slice of paradise being known for gourmet food and quality experiences, Key Lime fit the bill -- and so began Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe, a longstanding Florida bakery that's earned the adoration of its coastal community.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
There's no dish that captures the laid-back, easygoing, "Welcome to Paradise" vibes of coastal Florida than key lime pie. This is just facts.
And there's no bakery in Florida that captures the very essence of this iconic and ubiquitous dessert than Kermit's Key West Lime Pie. Again -- also facts... just ask anyone in Key West, and they'll tell you Kermit's is the best!
In 1993, after much deliberation about future career paths within his cozy Key West community, Kermit Carpenter began selling pies on the corner of Elizabeth and Greene Streets. Thirty years later, Kermit's flagship shop still stands, with the green-capped chef smiling as big as ever and as much as an icon as his delicious pies.
As it were, when the bakery first opened on this Key West corner, the rent was right -- but the location was not. While the shop was near the waterfront, it was also adjacent to a sewage pumping station. The good news, however, was that developers had big plans for the area -- so if Kermit's business could survive the next
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few years, the site would be a premier location.
So Kermit got to work. With a big, brilliant smile and enviable work ethic, all the new business owner needed to do was make the best key lime pies ever... and that he did.
Today, Carpenter still works seven days a week, 50 weeks a year, and his eponymous pie shop has become more than a mere bakery... it's part of the very fabric of the community, "a ‘destination retailer’ that visitors seek out for the experience," he says.
Of course, for a business to have garnered so much acclaim and adoration, the product itself needs to be good -- and yes, Kermit's pies really are *that* good.
Over the years, the baker has branched out with all sorts of key lime creations, from key lime on a stick to key lime-infused salad dressings and even other Old Florida cuisine, like the delicious Cuban sandwich!
The shop is open for full breakfast and lunch service daily, and it's become a destination in the area for tourists and locals like.
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For Carpenter, the shop truly has taken on a life of its own; it's a community cornerstone and place folks just want to hang out. "Visitors love the opportunity to sit in our shaded waterfall garden, enjoy the koi pond, and take a break from the happy chaos that is Key West," he quips.
Sometimes, though, this "chaos" isn't happy, as with natural disasters that have affected the area over the last three decades.
"Throughout the years, we’ve served our community in every way that we possibly can help make a difference," says Carpenter.
"After Hurricane Irma, with the island shut down to visitors, no electricity, empty grocery shelves and a Kermit’s kitchen FULL of food, for several days we fed the locals and first responders who needed a hot meal," he muses. The bake shop also proudly supports other Monroe County non-profits, including the MARC House, The Key West Women’s Club, Reef Relief, and The Key West Historical Society.
Because at the end of the day, we're stronger together -- and this is something the most successful small business owners know and appreciate. "The best part of being a business owner is the people," he says. "Every single day, people are amazed that 'There really is a Kermit' and are just so gracious and friendly, sharing a bit of their vacation with us. This is a happy town, full of happy people," he says.
And for the last 30 years, Key West has been anchored by a jolly and jovial, Man in Green. We hope, with all our hearts, that folks continue coming to the corner of Elizabeth and Green Streets in Key West, Florida, to support a man who's become synonymous with the town itself.
Many thanks to Kermit Carpenter for sharing the story of his iconic Florida pie shop. Learn more about Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, Kermit's is just one of the many longstanding and beloved local businesses in Florida; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Florida article. And be sure to follow Only In Florida on Facebook and Instagram to learn about the Sunshine State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.