With a concept he describes as "jiggy," proprietor James Glass opened a temporary location of his shop, The Chocolate Guy, on Dec. 16 at 3631 Walnut Street, in the space formerly occupied by Steve Madden.
Glass, the young entrepreneur who has been operating the original Chocolate Guy store at Suburban Station on 16th Street and JFK Boulevard for the past year-and-a-half, is intent on becoming the ultimate campus chocolatier.
And with a wide range of items, including chocolate pizzas, a breakfast plate of sausage, pancakes and eggs -- also all made of chocolate -- and champagne-filled, chocolate-covered strawberries, it is apparent that this isn't your average chocolate store.
"I try to combine Godiva's chocolate and packaging with a younger flair ... it's more of a fun chocolate store that tastes great," Glass said.
It was just this flair that attracted the attention of the University, according to Business Services spokesman Tony Sorrentino.
"It was a unique concept, there was nothing else quite like it in the University Business District. It was an opportunity to take a recently vacated store and give a concept a try," Sorrentino said.
And so far, it seems to be paying off, as Glass says that business at the store has been fairly strong. Not unexpectedly, there was a bit of a drop-off over winter break, but he expects that sales will pick up quickly when students return.
"I hear 20,000 kids are coming back soon. I hope they have their chocolate appetites," Glass said.
Although he only expects to remain at this location for a few months, this may not be the last time that University City hears from Glass.
"It's a temporary venture past Valentine's Day, depending on the response. But eventually I want to do a cafe-style chocolate shop on campus," Glass said.
Sorrentino also seemed to leave open that possibility, or even that The Chocolate Guy could stay on at its current location.
"We're aggressively marketing the space while The Chocolate Guy is set up there," Sorrentino said. "Perhaps The Chocolate Guy does very well and wants to stay -- we'd be open to that."
Additionally, the opening of The Chocolate Guy may signal a shift in the University's selection of stores that it brings to campus, drawing more independent businesses as opposed to the typical national retailers.
"We'd like a mix," Sorrentino said. "All good business districts have a mix of national brand chain stores complemented by individual, one-of-a-kind stores. It helps the business district be eclectic, unique."
CORRECTION: This article incorrectly identifies James Glass as the owner of The Chocolate Guy. Glass is the shop's chocolatier and founder. The Chocolate Guy is a corporation of which Glass is not a majority owner.
