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Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market coming to Fort Lowell & Dodge Blvd

Bon bons (Photo courtesy of Monsoon Chocolate)

Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market coming to Fort Lowell & Dodge Blvd

Jan 18, 20232 min read

The local chocolate factory known for its award-winning sweets is opening a new location in midtown Tucson.

Monsoon Chocolate + Cafe in the Copenhagen Plaza (Photo by Matt Sterner)
Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market in the Copenhagen Plaza (Photo by Matt Sterner)

The crew behind Monsoon Chocolate is still in the early stages of what it takes to open but they’re aiming for a spring opening at the Copenhagen plaza, 3636 E. Fort Lowell Rd.

“The new location will become our flagship cafe/retail experience,” said Adam Krantz, owner of Monsoon Chocolate. “Once it opens, the cafe at La Buena will convert into a smaller retail-only factory store and gift shop.”

Photo courtesy of Monsoon Chocolate
Photo courtesy of Monsoon Chocolate

Making this new spot their flagship cafe, which is right on the corner of Fort Lowell Road and Dodge Boulevard, will allow the team to expand production and avoid selling out of the goods less often. Also, sometime in the future, they’re looking forward to offering factory tours again.

Then, to put a little extra sweetness on top, the new cafe and market location will give them the opportunity to expand their cafe offerings, too.

Photo courtesy of Monsoon Chocolate on Instagram
Photo courtesy of Monsoon Chocolate on Instagram

“More beverages, more pastries, more ice cream, and there will be more indoor seating as well as a beautiful patio,” said Krantz. “We’ll also be curating retail goods by other craft producers, hence the ‘market’ part of the name.”

So, keep an eye on the new location as it progresses and moves closer to opening later this year. Once they’re open and the chocolate is flowing, they’ll be opening the “Tasting Room” inside the cafe. This is where they’ll be able to host classes, workshops, and events in a private space.

We’ll have more hand-crafted, chocolaty details in the coming months, and in the meantime, pay a visit to their retail store and cafe at 234 E. 22nd St.

In the neighborhood

The midtown area has been adding new local spots over the years, giving Le Rendez-vous and the sports bar, The Depot, some company. Tucson Hop Shop recently celebrated its seventh anniversary, Ciao Down moved in right next door, and Hello Bicycle & Cafe is just a couple of blocks away, serving up hot coffee and select baked goods like stroopwafels from Honey & Co.

Here’s a scenario: Grab a coffee to get your day goin’, drink a beer and eat a pizza at the Metal Arts Village, get a sugar rush inside Monsoon Chocolate, hop on the horse statue positioned on top of the OK Feed & Supply store (use some magic to make it come to life), mosey on over to Le Rendez-vous for dinner, and end the night with some karaoke at The Depot.

Monsoon Chocolate’s new spot will be located at 3636 E. Fort Lowell Rd. and the other spot is located at 234 E. 22nd St. For more information, visit monsoonchocolate.com and follow Monsoon Chocolate on Facebook and Instagram. 

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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