Chocolate Cafe

A great go-to stop located in Downtown St Joseph that has goodies for all levels of chocolate lovers. We also have the classics like a perfect hot chocolate on a cold day.

SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY: ITS FOUNDING AND GROWTH

In 1991, Mark Tarner founded the South Bend Chocolate Company and operated it as a second business. In August of 1994, the South Bend Chocolate Company incorporated with Mr. and Mrs. Tarner as majority shareholders. We now have Mr. and Mrs. Tarner, Sam Tarner, and Kristina Tressler as company shareholders and 14 company-owned stores in Northern Indiana with 3 franchise locations throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

The factory is currently located at 3300 W. Sample Street in South Bend, Indiana, and occupies 60,000 square feet. The company got its start making chocolates under a license from the University of Notre Dame. Its first three products were the Domer, the Rockne, and Nuts for ND. New confections roll out of the factory every day. Twenty-five years after our founding, we produce over 500 different chocolates and sweets. These products are available in stores nationwide and through our company-owned stores.

Since its humble beginning, the South Bend Chocolate Company has successfully grown- one satisfied customer at a time.

“We’re expanding into more than just a chocolate company,” says Mark. “We’re more of a food company. We roast nuts and coffee, own a bakery, and operate exciting retail stores. We make almost every item in our stores. We are butchers, bakers, and chocolate makers.”