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Schakolad winning over locals with chocolate creations
by Kelli Kennedy
On 8/22/2002
“Everything tastes better dipped in chocolate,” is David Zatz’s motto. And since the former Siemen’s employee left the corporate world one year ago to open a gourmet chocolate store, it’s a motto he says he enjoys living by.
“I eat at least a pound of chocolate a day,” said Zatz, owner of Schakolad in Boca Raton, whose favorites include the prize winning chocolate raspberry truffle and the chocolate coconut cluster.
They’re also known for having the “hottest chocolate in town,” says Zatz, after a fire in the Boca Raton shopping plaza nearly put them out of business in 2002 just before Easter.
But they bounced back in time to manufacture enough chocolate Easter eggs to satisfy the masses.
Internationally known for their handmade European-style chocolates, Schakolad prides itself on not only manufacturing the purest decadent treats, but for their ability to create their chocolate into any shape you can imagine.
“We can make anything out of chocolate,” said Zatz, whose store specializes in chocolate business cards, picture frames and special occasion favors, as well as a few extraordinary designs.
The store painstakingly created a backgammon set, made from white and dark chocolate, which a customer sent to “Regis and Kelly Live.” A larger than life chocolate fortune cookie was also recently created for a customer, who shipped the product to Beyonce Knowles.
During Valentine’s Day, Schakolad creates traditional favorites like chocolate covered strawberries, as well as spicier treats like chocolate handcuffs and chocolate body paint.
But most of their business comes from other businesses, said Zatz.
Dr. Helen Bartosek, a Boca Raton chiropractor, says she uses the chocolate store frequently to send thank you gifts to colleagues.
“People love it,” said Bartosek, who loves the chocolates business cards. “The chocolate is fabulous and it’s a wonderful way of saying thank you that isn’t as monotonous as a bottle of wine. It’s innovative.”
Terry Donoghue, an investment advisor for NEMCO, says he is especially fond of the company “because they will design whatever you want.”
Donoghue, who also works with several local charities, says clients loved the classic Mustangs which Schakolad sculpted out of white chocolate for a charity event.
The store, one of 16 throughout the United States, has created scrumptious creations for other charities including the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“The chocolate is unbelievable good,” said Donoghue. “There are a lot of good chocolate companies in Boca, but they’re the best.”
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