Chocolate shop moves to new Barrington location

The Barrington Chocolate Shoppe recently moved to its new location in Barrington.

The business, formerly on Cook Street, is now in a smaller shop with better parking in Barrington Commons, said Ben Borkon who runs the day to day operations of the business.

While the location is new, the popular chocolate is the same, Borkon said. He said everything is homemade at the shop that mainly uses Blommer Chocolate from Chicago as the base chocolate. "We only use premier products," he added.

The blueberry pecan chocolate has become a highlight. "It has been flying out of here," Borkon said.

Using fresh blueberries, pecans and chocolate, it sells for $27.95 a pound, he said.

The pecan caramel clusters are another highlight as well as the nuts and fruits dipped in chocolate.

"Our nuts dipped in chocolate are out of this world," he said.

The shop also features chocolate bars from France, England, Spain, Germany and Brazil with cocoa content of between 40 and 99 percent, Borkon said.

The shop also features a great deal of dark chocolate.

Borkon's wife, Tressa, and three silent partners that live in the area own the business.

Ben Borkon said they launched the business because "Barrington needed a good chocolate shop."

Borkon, an architect for more than 50 years, and his wife, a former real estate agent, live in Lake Barrington Shores.

He said he was not ready to retire and enjoys running the shop.

"I don't like word the 'retirement,' " he said.

He added that the shop has been running several promotions with area business. In addition, chocolate fondue parties and chocolate classes have also been popular.

The business is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, check out barringtonchocolate.com or call (847) 381-8833.

Kim Mikus covers small business. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com.