Oakwood chocolate shop scores national shout-out from Forbes

Praise comes less than six months after Madame Delluc opened a second location in Chicago

It's been less than six months since Oakwood chocolate shop Madame Delluc Artisan Chocolatier opened its second retail location in the 900 North Michigan Shops retail center in Chicago. But in terms of spreading the word about Madame Delluc to a broader audience, it looks like that decision has already paid off.

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Forbes.com Mother's Day Gift Guide on "The Best Dark Chocolates" delivered a nice little shout-out to the Oakwood-based chocolatier, which sells chocolates from the historic and highly acclaimed Brussels, Belgium-based chocolatier named "Mary."

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Here’s what writer Amber Gibson had to say about Madame Delluc:

Marie Delluc was Belgium's first female chocolatier when she opened her doors in 1919. A century later, her predominantly dark chocolate bars and bonbons are available in the United States under the Madame Delluc brand with nationwide shipping. You can also sample and put together a custom box of Champagne truffles, nutty pralines and dark chocolate violet ganache hearts for mom at the recently opened flagship store at 900 Shops in Chicago. The single-origin Mexican 80% dark chocolate bar made from rare Criollo beans is especially enticing, made with cacao beans harvested from Madame Delluc's own cacao plantation.

Madame Delluc founder Francoise Walusis said this morning that Forbes.com writer Amber Gibson “was in our Chicago shop a handful of times a few weeks ago. I'm really excited to have my little business mentioned in such a big publication.”

>> RELATED: New chocolate shop opens in Oakwood (December 2015)

The Mary Chocolatier has been making chocolates for a century as of this year. In 2017, CNN named Mary as one of the "15 Happiest Places in the World." And in 2016, A Mary chocolate bar was lauded as one of the nine "Best Chocolates in the World" by a Conde Nast Traveler writer.

>> Oakwood chocolate shop part of the 15 ‘world’s happiest places.’ (March 2017)

Francoise Walusis is a native of Belgium who came to Ohio more than two decades ago to attend Wittenberg University.

***PREVIOUS STORY (Dec. 14, 2018)***

Oakwood chocolate shop Madame Delluc Artisan Chocolatier opened its second retail location this week and is planning further expansion.

The shop — which sells chocolates from the historic and highly acclaimed Brussels, Belgium-based chocolatier named "Mary" — opened a shop Thursday, Dec. 13 in the 900 North Michigan Shops retail center at 900 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago.

RELATED: Magazine declares local shop’s chocolates 1 of 9 ‘best in the world’ (July 2016)

“We felt we were ready to branch out into a major market,” Madame Delluc co-founder Francoise Walusis told this news outlet today, Friday Dec. 14. “Our top three options were Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, 5th Avenue in New York City, and on North Michigan Avenue (Chicago).

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“We were looking for one of the premiere shopping districts in a major market in the U.S. We chose Chicago for two reasons: It made the most sense geographically because it's close and because we have a large customer base in Chicago, based on our online sales.”

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Walusis said there are plans to open additional shops, with the next one coming to either New York City or Los Angeles.

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“We don't have any plans to expand into any other small or mid-market cities. From here on, it will be major markets. Oakwood will always be our headquarters/flagship location, because the Dayton area is home for us. Oakwood will also always be the first location to get new products and packaging.”

RELATED: New chocolate shop opens in Oakwood (December 2015)

The new store is expected to boost online sales, which are fulfilled from the store at 2510 Far Hills Ave.

RELATED: Oakwood chocolate shop scores national shout-out

The Mary Chocolatier has been making chocolates for 99 years. Last year, CNN named Mary as one of the "15 Happiest Places in the World." And in 2016, A Mary chocolate bar was lauded as one of the nine "Best Chocolates in the World" by a Conde Nast Traveler writer.

>> Oakwood chocolate shop part of the 15 ‘world’s happiest places.’ (March 2017)

Francoise Walusis is a native of Belgium who came to Ohio more than two decades ago to attend Wittenberg University.

For more information, check out the Madame Delluc Artisan Chocolatier web site.

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