Intro voice from Adam Mazoni: So what were you thinking?
Josh Schafer: From chocolate fruit to candy hearts, Adam Mazzoni has spent the last month preparing for the rush of his first Valentine’s Day as the owner of Sweet on Chocolate in Armory Square. Without the extended time, Mazzoni may have struggled.
Mazzoni: I was able to get in at a slower time of year, so that gave me a little bit of time to get the technique and the practice down with chocolate and uhhh then gear up for the holiday season.
Schafer: Mazzoni’s been handpicking chocolates for a crowd that’s increased since February 1s and he’s getting used to the holiday surge.
Mazzoni: Happy spouse happy house, there you go!
Schafer: In Sweet on Chocolate first year under new ownership it seems that Feb. 13 is the big day this year.
PJ Cenajko: this was pretty good I came this morning, tried to beat the traffic which I think in have. But in the past it’s always packed and the assortment isn’t as good if you show up late.
Schafer: Cenajko bought boxes of chocolate for his family but Mazzoni says customer’s motives aren’t always so easy to read.
Mazzoni: It’s not always obvious but I guess you can maybe venture a guess that here for a gift for someone else. But maybe it’s just for themselves. Maybe they just want to treat themselves to something nice and that’s all good. I don’t discriminate as long as people are buying chocolate I’m happy.
Schafer: :Less than 24 hours before Valentines’ Day, Mazzoni just hopes his preparation is enough to keep things spinning, Josh Schafer NCC NEWS
When Adam Mazzoni bought Sweet on Chocolate in September he didn’t know much about chocolate at all. After working in the wholesale pickle business, he saw chocolate as another business opportunity.
“I was able to get in at a slower time of year,” Mazzoni said. “So that gave me a little bit of time to get the technique and the practice down with chocolate and then gear up for the holiday season.”
Over the past few months, Mazzoni learned about the behind scenes of making chocolate. He learned it needs to be handled with care, always keeping in mind the temperature and what ingredients are in the chocolate. Steady state chocolate with no fillings can last up to two years, Mazzoni said, but once nuts, caramel or another additive is put in the shelf life falls to one month.
Since February hit, Mazzoni hasn’t had to worry about how long the chocolate will last. He joked about New Year’s resolutions slowing business through January but that Valentine’s Day has increased foot traffic again.
“It’s not always obvious, but I guess you can maybe venture a guess that they’re here for a gift for someone else,” Mazzoni said. “But maybe it’s just for themselves. Maybe they just want to treat themselves to something nice and that’s all good. I don’t discriminate, as long as people are buying chocolate I’m happy.”
