New immersive chocolate factory will lead visitors on a journey from bean to bar

The brainchild of chocolatier and entrepreneur Ray Bitzel, former owner of Bellejais Chocolatier, Bitzel’s Chocolate will feature a line of affordable, chef-crafted delicacies conceived by master chocolatier Sabrina Coombs, former executive pastry chef at Nobu Atlanta and season eight finalist on Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’.

The factory will offer retail and wholesale chocolate treats including chocolate bark, chocolate-covered fruits and nuts, ice cream-filled bonbons and truffles and molded chocolate products as well as fresh, continuously churning gelato.

Bitzel says he plans to offer a true ‘Willy Wonka’-style experience, allowing visitors to watch as chocolate creations move through an automated production process. Visitors also can see how cocoa is harvested and learn about farmers from Ecuador, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic while walking through an artificial cocoa forest.

“We’re making a quality product with real ingredients, and guests can see how it’s made, from bean to bar​,” says Bitzel. “Guests will have the ability to see the whole process from production to packaging in-house​.”