Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Opens In Shorewood

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has opened in Shorewood in the same storefront as the Cold Stone Creamery.

How is that possible, you ask? That's because it's a co-brand.

"This will be the first Rocky Mountain Express in 10 miles," remarked owner Yusef Vaji.

Last Friday marked the soft opening for Rocky Mountain. It's in the storefront right next to the Portillo's along Route 59.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate wants to be known for premium, upscale chocolate, Vaji said.

"I do all these things to spread happiness," he said. "I just try to bring people smiles all day along. I'm very excited to bring Rocky Mountain Chocolate here to Shorewood. I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

Christin Gill is the manager for the Shorewood business. The Cold Stone Creamery typically carries about 22 different ice cream flavors. "And those change seasonally," Gill remarked. "Cold Stone makes our own cakes and ice cream, so the ice cream is fresh."

According to the company profile, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is a confectionery manufacturer and retail operator based in Durango, on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado.

From its 53,000-square-foot factory, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory manufactures an extensive line of premium chocolate candies and other confectionery products to supply its many franchise locations.

The Colorado factory produces approximately 300 chocolate candies and other confectionery products, including many varieties of clusters, caramels, creams, meltaways, truffles, and molded chocolates.

Local stores prepare a variety of caramel and candy apples in full view of the customer using traditional cooking utensils such as copper kettles on stoves.