Our first week back was the best!  First, we saw so many of our regulars, who were as excited as we were for the reopening.  The sense of joy in being able to reconnect is so real.  We shared stay-at-home experiences, which everyone endured valiantly, in spite of a sense of acute isolation for many.  Everyone wore a mask, but know that we have some on hand should you need one.  Everyone was patient and waited outside so one person/social unit could be helped at one time.  We were able to offer samples and stepped back so they could be...

The last ten weeks were intense for our little business.  They encompassed Easter and Mother's Day, two important chocolate holidays, which generated a huge number of orders from customers eager to support their local chocolatier.  The shop was closed, but after week three we resumed production to ensure customers' favorites would be in stock.  We set up a special "Stay Home, Share the Love" page (all formats under $20) so anyone self- isolating could send a box to family or friends.   Now that we exit the stay-at-home phase and cautiously enter yet a new normal, we want to extend our...

                                                                                      (Winky Lewis Photography) The City of Portland has issued a stay at home directive, effective tomorrow afternoon March 25 and extending for at least the next five days.  So we will not open the shop tomorrow, but will concentrate instead on finishing a batch of Marius French bunnies, Critters and big Gianduja and Mendiant eggs.  We have a good number of orders and had been producing our various Easter goodies at a great clip.  We want to be able to ship in early April to all of you, our wonderful, supportive customers!  Our ability to make more is likely...

     After much thought, we are starting this week with a new protocol in our shop.  We wanted to set up measures that totally meet the social distancing imperative while recognizing that we may need to function this way for many weeks to come.  We need to respond in the best way possible to this very fluid situation, while keeping our customers and ourselves safe. To that end, this is what we have arranged starting tomorrow: - For ONE customer (or social unit) to be in the shop at a time.  We ask that they look through the window, or...

We are so lucky at 189 Brackett Street.  We love our customers, and our customers love us.  At no time was this more obvious than during the Valentine season. First, we were serenaded!  Four very well dressed gentlemen came in to buy Valentine boxes, waiting for each other after their respective purchases.  When all were done, they lined up and treated us to the most beautiful Valentine a capella performance.  So lovely it gave us all goose bumps!  Next , one of our youngest customers, Wolfe, gave Catherine a hand-drawn Valentine, see above.  Wolfe and his parents Jacob and Lauren...

I am writing this entry while on our short January break, which started on New Year's  Eve and ends this Wednesday.  Looking back, the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year were a blur.  Darcy painted molds, Patricia made mendiants, we all made ganaches and filled thousands upon thousands of chocolates before making up boxes that would be instantly snapped up.  We had to limit larger box purchases in order to have enough for all to the end of the holidays.  Our kind customers graciously obliged us and shifted to smaller formats. So this was a splendid holiday season for...