The Chocolate Shoppe started in 1976 in the historic town of Mantorville, Minnesota, under the original owner, Debbie Lee. In 1989, Lynne Kenworthy along with her daughter Lynnette, purchased the business from its second owner. Later on, in 2012, Lynnette then bought out Lynne.
From an early age, Lynnette was into chocolate, sweets and learned a lot about baking from a neighbor. Lynnette was well on her way to making the best chocolates around when at age 17, Lynnette went to work for the previous Chocolate Shoppe owner.
Today, Lynnette Nash and her daughter, Alexa, work together as partners in running the family business, with plans of Alexa taking over the family business in the future That would make her the third generation in her family to run the business, and continuing the business's tradition of women owners!
Lynnette and Alexa make everything in small batches, right in store in their own kitchen, which guarantees that customers receive the freshest possible confectionery delights. Using the original recipes that they have adapted to the changing times, the Chocolate Shoppe makes a wide variety of handmade chocolates, fudges, caramels, toffees, truffles, and creams, all dipped in a variety of chocolates ranging from milk, dark and white chocolate. In the store, there is a variety of over 100 chocolate delicacies to choose from to make a sweet gift for anyone!
The Chocolate Shoppe's most popular item, Chocolate Pecan Clusters (or, more commonly known as Pecan Turtles) are available in a variety of ways. Whether it's dipped in milk chocolate or dark chocolate, sprinkled with sea salt or not, covered in chipotle spices, or even dipped in white chocolate mixed with coffee; Chocolate Pecan Clusters come in any way to satisfy any craving. It's different forms available is what makes it such a hit at the candy store.
The favorite response from customers is, "This tastes just like my grandma used to make!" For every holiday during the year, chocolates and candies are a must-have to celebrate. Whether during the December Holiday Season, birthdays, Easter, Mother or Father's Day, and so on, they have a variety of confections and sweets to offer to help celebrate. Sometimes, they add extra special items like divinity and peanut brittle; others, they can customize gift packages for the season. With every holiday, the Chocolate Shoppe looks forward to providing the finest candies.
Along with the wide variety of chocolates and candies, the Chocolate Shoppe offers a number of other products. They offer a variety of candies, whether it's old-fashioned candies such as Candy Sticks (formerly Candy Cigarettes), or newer fun candies such as Warheads. In addition, they serve Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company's hard serve ice creams, a super-premium ice cream brand out of Madison, WI, only sold to small businesses in the Midwest. They also sell Spring Grove and Sioux City sodas in a multitude of flavors, and a number of hand-crafted or self-grown goods from local vendors and craftsmen in the area.
The Chocolate Shoppe offers multiple shopping options, either online at their website chocolateshoppe.co, the Rochester Farmers Market during the summer months or in-store at 420 Main St N in Mantorville, MN. Across the street from other well-known businesses such as the Hubbell House, County Seat Coffeehouse, and the Mantorville Saloon, it would be hard to miss the brick building with red trim on the corner.
With so much to choose from, the Valentine Burlap Bag Filled with Chocolate Caramel Nut Clusters for me. A sure pleaser for any Valentine.
Either way, remember that Valentine's Day is coming up, Saturday, February 14. Be sure not to forget your sweetie and treat them to an extra special treat this year!
