Chocolate Tree offers sweet stop at Creekside
Chocolate Tree owner Sally Held (left) and her granddaughter, Brittany Burchett, display some of the offerings at the shop, 800 Creekside Plaza. Buy This Photo
PrintGahanna-area residents could satisfy their sweet cravings with fresh, homemade fudge at the Chocolate Tree, 800 Creekside Plaza.
New Albany resident Sally Held opened the business Aug. 1, relocating her store from Pickerington. About 15 years ago, she operated a fudge shop in Canal Winchester.
"Not too many places have fresh fudge," she said. "I have two kettles to make fresh fudge every day. There are 32 flavors. Cappuccino and peanut butter are the most popular."
Held has been so busy preparing to open for business that she hasn't had time to set her store hours yet. She said she hopes to be open by 8 a.m. daily, seven days a week. She tentatively plans to have a grand opening over Labor Day weekend.
The business is a family affair, with her parents, daughters and granddaughters all helping in one way or another. The store will have five regular employees, Held said.
In addition to fudge, Chocolate Tree offers hand-dipped chocolate candies, made by Held's parents, in addition to cupcakes, cake balls, cheesecake, cookies, brownies, pies, muffins, cobbler, birthday and wedding cakes, breads and cinnamon rolls.
A few of the chocolates will feature chocolate-covered Oreos, chocolate-covered graham crackers, chocolate-covered pretzels, cherry cordials and various flavors of cream-filled chocolates.
"We will also have a line of sugar-free candy and fudge," Held said. "And we will be getting in a lot of gluten-free products."
Held said she just loves to bake. She makes all of the fudge, cakes, pies and cookies. Held especially enjoys all of the different breads, which will include pumpkin and banana nut, among others.
"Bread is my weakness," she said. "Outside of gluten-free, we'll have eight to 10 flavors of bread."
Held said the breakfast crowd might enjoy coffees and muffins, whereas the business will provide a daily lunchbox special with a cold sandwich, a salad, a garnish, chips and a dessert.
Held said she chose to relocate to Creekside because it's closer to her home.
"All the activity here is a big thing for me," she said. "I like Creekside. I can't believe how busy it is. Before we opened, people had been walking around here and walking down the alley. A lady said, 'When you see the word, chocolate, it draws you in.'"
