Tucson Chocolate Factory will open its new storefront on Historic Fourth Avenue in early March, marking a major move for the growing local confectioner.
The company announced the relocation this week on social media. Owners said they will take over space at 431 N. Fourth Ave. Their final day at Proper Shops will take place Sunday, March 1. However, customers can still find the team at farmers markets and local events during the transition.
The move places the chocolate maker in one of Tucson’s most visited retail corridors. Fourth Avenue draws steady foot traffic from University of Arizona students, downtown workers, and tourists. As a result, the new location offers stronger visibility and expanded retail potential.
From Kitchen Experiments to Artisan Chocolate
Tucson Chocolate Factory began as a creative outgrowth of owner Armando Bezies’ culinary experiments during the 2020 pandemic. Bezies started by making toffee at home, then taught himself to craft chocolate from raw beans when his supplier retired. He bought a small coffee bean roaster and began roasting heirloom cacao at home before expanding into small-batch chocolate production.
The business formed officially in May 2022. From those early days, the focus remained on handcrafted confections rooted in local flavors and quality craftsmanship.
Bezies operates the chocolate kitchen in Tucson, transforming imported cacao from Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia into bonbons, bars, and specialty truffles. He refines each batch through careful roasting, grinding, and tempering, often blending unique Southwestern ingredients like prickly pear, mesquite honey, chiltepin peppers, and local agave.
Building Local Recognition
Tucson Chocolate Factory grew steadily through direct community engagement. The team joined farmers markets throughout the region, expanding its audience and connecting with Tucson’s food culture. They also built retail partnerships with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and specialty shops, helping the brand reach beyond the local market.
The company has earned recognition for its craft. Its single-origin and flavor-forward bars won international awards in recent years, drawing attention from food media and visitors alike.
Keep up with Tucson Chocolate Factory on Instagram.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
