The proposed retail store for Charles Chocolates. |
Charles Chocolates soon will be re-opening in San Francisco in a few months.
Chuck Siegel, the company’s owner, has launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising money to build out a new kitchen and retail store in the city’s Mission district within the next few months. His original shop was closed in March 2011 after financial issues, according to the San Francisco Eater.
The new space will allow Siegel to produce, display and distribute Charles Chocolates, which are craft-made, small-batch chocolates.
The 4,000-sq.-ft. kitchen will feature more than 75 linear feet of windows, allowing visitors to peek in. The concept is modeled after the company’s former kitchen in Emeryville, Calif.
“Everyone who visits will be treated to the fun of watching all our talented chocolatiers creating each of our treats from start to finish — a truly unique experience,” he says.
“It’s doesn’t look like much now, but what we’re building here is really cool,” he tells viewers as he walks through a construction site.
So far, the Kickstarter campaign has 114 backers and has raised $8,594 in pledges. His goal is to reach $50,000 total by Nov. 11.
And of course, Siegel is offering incentives to people who pledge to the project. For example, anyone who pledges $25 or more will receive a large box of Chocolate Paves (bittersweet chocolate truffles) and their name on the new store’s wall of love.
The rewards go up incrementally all the way to $10,000. People who pledge that much receive 10 large gift boxes filled with an assortment of chocolates, a spot in Siegel’s full-day confection class, a Charles Chocolates chef jacket, two limited edition Charles Chocolates sweatshirts, their name on the store’s wall of love, a dinner and chocolate party at Charles Chocolates for up to 30 people, the opportunity to create a custom Edible Chocolate Box lid, and six finished edible chocolate boxes.
“Charles Chocolates is one of the top chocolate lines in the country and your participation rewards you with the most gorgeous, mouth-watering chocolate and other goodies,” he tells potential donors on the Kickstarter page. “Need we say more?”