In the Saint Croix Courier, Tuesday, Feb. 17

Rosetta Gallant displays a selection of chocolates that will be available at the new Ganong Chocolatier, expected to open in Riverview June 1.


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GANONG IS GROWING
Despite recession, St. Stephen's famed candy maker is opening a new shop in Riverview

By JOHN GARDNER
john@stcroixcourier.ca

ST. STEPHEN – Ganong Bros. has made St. Stephen famous as Canada’s “Chocolate Town” and now, despite the recession, the company is expanding and opening a new retail shop on the Chocolate River.
The town of Riverview is creating a new tourist destination called Fundy Gateway and Ganong Bros. is making plans to be part of the development. The old firehouse on the shores of the Peticodiac River (also known as the Chocolate River) is part of this project and will house three prominent retailers. In addition to a Ganong Chocolatier, the facility will feature Rocky Mountain Maple and local soap manufacturer, Olivier.
Don’t expect to find the usual Delecto label at this new location, said Ganong Chocolatier Manager Jeff McShane.
“The shop will exclusively showcase our handcrafted products We will definitely do the boxes that are exclusive to the store here, and the pieces out of the showcase that are exclusive to the store,” he said.
“Riverview is the start of the Fundy experience so we positioned ourselves there for the tourist market as well as the Moncton – Riverview population.”
It is expected the new operation will open June 1, just in time for the tourist season. Bryana Ganong has been instrumental in establishing the new outlet.
The Chocolatier, at approximately 84 square metres, will be significantly smaller in size than the shop in St. Stephen, and just a small part of the 1,000 square-metre Fundy Gateway complex.
Dave Muire, the Chief Administrative Officer of the town of Riverview, said the fire station is ideally suited for the $2.2 million project. The structure, built in the early 1970s, has sat unused for the past three years.
“Over the last few years we have tried to find methods to develop it and we had some projects come forward we weren’t really keen on. And then this project came forward from a local entrepreneur with a proposal and worked on with my economic development officer,” says Muire.
“The theme is chocolate and tempting your senses so it should be a good fit.”
The exterior of the cement block structure is being resurfaced and the interior is being gutted.
Special events and demonstrations are going to be a part of the business, McShane said.
“The other facilities are actually demonstrating their products. The soapery is going to make soap on the premises. The Rocky Mountain Maple is actually going to make maple syrup, it’s done behind plexiglass. So we are in the process of actually adding something in the store that we are actually going to be making on site, whether it be fudge or things with chocolate. We are definitely leaning toward parties there, such as birthday parties or private events,” says McShane.
The complex is also expected to house artisans and there will be a restaurant there.
“Our part is that we are going to have another exclusive store in that part of the Maritimes,” says McShane.
Although a big part of the business is expected to be tourism based, the facility will be open year round, and employ four or five people at that location. McShane is responsible for setting up this new operation and will manage the Riverview location while continuing in his role as manager of the retail store in St. Stephen.
“We will have someone on site as a supervisor,” says McShane.