The Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Company fulfilled many children’s dreams in August when they opened a new chocolate factory on “The Hill” offering free tours.
Founded by Dan Abel Sr., the Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Company opened in St. Louis, Missouri in February of 1981. Abel returned to St. Louis to open his own candy store after studying with master candy makers across the country. Despite the initial slow growth of the company, the franchise experienced a immediate increase in sales after Abel’s three children joined him in the candy business.
“Within a year of [my kids] joining the company, our sales grew four times larger. So we decided to go big,” Abel said.
Because of the desire to “go big”, the chocolate company now has nine different locations, with stores in both Missouri and Illinois. However, only one location offers customers a free tour of the chocolate factory.
After spending seven months cleaning out what used to be a post office warehouse, “The Hill” franchise of the chocolate company recently opened it’s chocolate factory to customers. Free tours are given throughout the week, except on Sundays.
Inside the factory, the company gives customers the opportunity to view their central kitchen and the 100-foot chocolate line. Caramel and center-piece making takes place in the central kitchen where the company uses a copper pot from the 1800’s and a mixer from the 1950’s.
Outside of the central kitchen sits the chocolate line, which took two semi-trucks to deliver due to its length. The process of sending a piece of chocolate down the line takes about 45 minutes. Customers can see employees work on the hand made decorations on each of the chocolate pieces.
After the tour, the company offers customers a chance to visit their tasting room, which has a $5 entry fee. In the tasting room, people can try five different chocolate pieces, including a salted caramel truffle which is not available at any other location.
However, students do not have to travel far if they only wish to try the chocolate this company creates. The Chesterfield franchise of the Chocolate Company, owned by Central graduate Sarah Bradley’s mother, Kimberly Bradley, celebrated its nine year anniversary on September 7th. Located by the intersection of Clarkson and Baxter, this location usually sees around 150-270 people each week, depending on the time of year. Bradley enjoys the frequent interaction with customers, which is a major part of her occupation.
“I love working with our customers to help them find the perfect gift or helping them discover their favorite sweet treat. Our patrons include customers that come in regularly to get their favorite treat, to Event and Wedding Planners looking for party favors or gifts for out of town guest, to corporate customers buying gifts for clients and business associates,” Bradley said.
To help clients discover a new treat, a 24 foot long candy case is located in the Chesterfield franchise. The case features over 65 kinds of candy, offered for sale by the piece or by the pound. The company also offers solid chocolate molded novelties in various shapes, including animals, numbers, letters, sports items, music items, and seasonal and holiday items. There are over 500 different molds to create these pieces.
The Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Company provides sweet treats and convenient locations to satisfy chocolate lovers alike.