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 Chocolate Lounges: The New Coffee House
Chocolate Lounges: The New Coffee House
By Celeste Stewart
Move over Starbucks, chocolate has arrived. According to Datamonitor, a trend-watcher, chocolate is the “new coffee” and was listed in their top ten trends to watch in 2006.
Chocolate lounges, cafes and boutiques are opening across the country. Unlike candy stores and bakeries, these establishments offer comfortable couches and warm, cozy atmospheres similar to the coffeehouse model, inviting customers to linger. Beckoned by the persuasive call of chocolate, customers gather to socialize with friends and indulge themselves.
Offerings vary from bite-sized pieces of gourmet chocolate to luxurious fondues, hot chocolate drinks, ice cream, truffles and even alcoholic cocktails made with chocolate.
Big names such as Mars Inc., the maker of M&Ms and Snickers, have opened up chocolate lounges and started a national trend. Mars is responsible for the chain of Ethel’s Chocolate Lounges popular in the Chicago area. Ethel’s, which was created in 2005, is considered by many the birthplace of the chocolate lounge.
But independents are popping up too. With names such as The Chocolate Bar and Haute Chocolate, who can resist the temptation?
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December 2008
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