The Chocolate Shoppe
by Karen Fetter
Few can
resist the sweet temptation of chocolate, especially when it involves
hand-dipped confections such as pretzels, nuggets, and nuts. That's one reason
why customers keep visiting The Chocolate Shoppe at 118 North Pennsylvania
Avenue in downtown Greensburg. However, owners Jim and Melissa O'Brien don't
stop with the traditional creations of chocolate. They pride themselves on
offering something for everyone, including those with an adventurous palette.
Looking for something out-of-the-ordinary? Try some of The Chocolate
Shoppe's top sellers, including chocolate covered bacon, jalapenos, and
pickles!Co-owner Melissa O'Brien believes few their offerings match the instant
gratification of their salty sweet, chocolate covered bacon.
Unusual Flavors and Custom Candies
"We have also created some unusual flavors of bark candy such as lemon
pistachio, cranberry orange, coconut lime, orange Creamsicle, and peanut butter
swirl," said Melissa. "We also dip fresh fruit everyday such as strawberries,
raspberries, and blueberries. We do everything in everything."
That motto holds true for any customer request. The Chocolate Shoppe
works customers to make any occasion a special chocolate event, such as baby
showers, wedding showers, weddings, birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's
Day, Easter, and parties. Melissa can customize chocolate for any need.
Furthermore, groups often work with the Chocolate Shoppe for their fundraising
needs. Orders can be available within a day or shipped for a special occasion.
The possibilities are endless.
New and popular items at The Chocolate Shoppe include cheesecake on a stick,
Krispy treats (dipped or on a stick) and dipped marshmallows on a stick.
The History of The Chocolate Shoppe
The Chocolate Shoppe opened in November 2009, surprisingly with no culinary
background on the part of either Melissa or her husband Jim. The idea for the
entire business stemmed from a need for Christmas presents for a large group of
family members visiting from out of town one year.
"We had a lot of family members coming in and we wanted to give each of them
something special. So I experimented with chocolate and topping," said Melissa.
Melissa began creating gourmet apples, which were Granny Smith apples dipped
in caramel, two layers of chocolate, and a topping. Soon after, she began
sending her creations with her husband and father as they went off to work. Word
of mouth spread quickly. From there the requests kept growing and growing.
People everywhere were being captivated by Melissa's chocolate!
Then suddenly the storefront near the Palace Theater opened up and the
O'Briens decided to take a chance and open up their own retail shop. They
contemplated several names, but ultimately decided on The Chocolate Shoppe for
its simplicity.
"We knew no matter what we named it people would end up calling it The
Chocolate Shoppe so we went with that. It's straightforward and people will
always know what we have to offer," said Melissa.
Most people look to chocolate for special occasions or for popular candy
holidays such as Easter and Valentine's Day. Specialized chocolate is decorated
for each season and holiday and chocolate makes for a great favor for a party,
shower, or wedding. However, Melissa said that their shop is busy year-round.
As a result, the chocolate is always fresh. Melissa likes to hand dip pieces
each day to keep up with the inventory and orders.
"I can make anything in any style for someone. I will take any kind of
order. If I don't have it on hand, I can usually have it ready next day," said
Melissa.
The Chocolate Shoppe uses milk, white, and dark chocolate to start, but
builds on that foundation. They also provide peanut butter chocolate and create
a variety of other flavors with oils.
"We are always creating something new. We recently added the Jelly Belly
products and will add nostalgia candy in the Fall. We want to constantly grow
our business and bring in new flavors," said Melissa.
Tours and Birthday Parties
The Chocolate Shoppe stays involved in the community by offering free tours
to groups such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, and
schools. Families can even get a tour! Many parents are enjoying planning
birthday parties at the Chocolate Shoppe as well. This is a popular option. It
begins with a story about where chocolate comes from and then a tour and
scavenger hunt through The Shoppe. Then the children can make their own
chocolate using pretzels, Oreos, or sticks for lollipops to take home with
them. The second half of the party then consists of pizza, cake and presents.
Parents are always welcomed to stay and enjoy the experience as well.
"We have a lot of fun with the parties and it is a great way for people to
learn more about us," said Melissa.
Hours for the Chocolate Shoppe are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday Noon to 5:00,
Wednesday and Saturday Noon to 3:00, and Thursday Noon to 7:00. Also, if there
is a show at the Palace Theater, the Chocolate Shop stays open late to
accommodate the crowd. Give in to your sweet tooth and stop by the Chocolate
Shoppe and indulge in one of Melissa's latest creations!
The Chocolate Shoppe
118 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Greensburg, PA 15602
724-216-5847
www.gourmetchocolateshoppe.com
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