Socola Chocolates
535 Folsom Street
Sometimes a project appears that we never dreamed we’d be working on. That was the case with the chocolate shop we helped create for Socola Chocolates.
This was our first project with Wendy and it was her first ever retail space. She had been working out of a shared kitchen and selling direct to other retailers and online sources.
When we started work, we had a blank canvas to work from. It was a brand new space in a new building with 15' tall ceilings. In fact, the rest of the building was still under construction when we started work.
We started the project with color in mind. Her logo and brand had (5) colors in it and we took off running with that in mind. We reinforced her brand throughout the space, creating a strong graphic pattern on the floor that tied in beautifully with the colors of her logo and the rectilinear nature of her chocolates and packaging. We also highlighted her brand colors with painted accent walls and a dropped ceiling with coffered articulation that evoked the texture of a chocolate bar. To top it all off, we were sure to locate her company name and mascot (a winged alpaca named “Harriet”) on the walls and columns to grab people’s eyes as they pass by.
What started out as a raw concrete shell turned into a delightful chocolate shop that opened in February of 2014 and is still booming today. We were thrilled to attend her launch party and watch her make her very first dollar in the new space.
Pop on in for a coffee, pastry, or several of her AMAZING handmade truffles. They are the best chocolates we’ve ever tasted and her flavors are incredibly unique.
WHAT
Commercial Tenant Improvement
WHERE
San Francisco
WHEN
2014
Credits

Structural Engineer
N/A

Contractor
Doherty Restorationwww.dohertyrestoration.com
415-695-1494

Photography
Victoria Kait