After closing for three weeks of renovations, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) is again open to the public. The chocolate shop received a makeover and some changes to their storefront, with backlit display cases and more room to showcase their chocolate.
Martin Brock, owner of RMCF, says the changes will enable him to make more chocolate and feature different flavours.
“We have 12 feet of chocolate now. We are doing some more clusters. We are going to do a pistachio cranberry; we are doing Tiger Oreo, so that is peanut butter chocolate with Oreo cookies in the centre and on the top,” he said, adding he hopes to make more chocolate bark and bombs as well.
Brock, who has owned and operated the chocolate shop for 13 years, believes his experience has helped him in the business.
“It’s 13 years of experience to learn how to do it at the retail level. I’m not a chocolatier, but I just love to cook. I think that anybody who loves to cook loves to create,” said Brock.
Brock believes there are some benefits to operating a chocolate shop rather than a restaurant or other kind of business, such as the shelf life of the products. At Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, the product with the lowest shelf life is the candy apples, which last up to 14 days. Everything else can be packaged and displayed for longer.
“As a restaurant, when you open your doors, you have to have everything you are advertising on your menu fresh. Their perishables are days,” he said. “Pure milk chocolate, it will last forever. In 100 years, if a block of chocolate is stored not too hot or not too cold and you seal it from anything that could get at it, you could eat it in 100 years.”
To accommodate the added space for chocolate, Brock decided to no longer sell gelato or ice cream cones. Instead he is opting for an ice cream bar, which he can customize by dipping it in a variety of toppings. Brock has plans to feature a variety of specialty chocolate bars throughout the summer months.
Along with removing the ice cream freezers to add more display cases, Brock gave the shop an overall facelift, changing the lighting to all LED, re-doing the floors and painting the walls. He also added digital screens to help promote the specialty products.
While RMCF is once again open for business, Brock plans on having an official re-opening party on July 1, adding to the Canada Day festivities throughout Fernie.