A 'Great' opening for chocolate shop

SANDUSKY — Many people on Thursday attended a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Chocolate located within the Marketplace Downtown, 133 E. Market St., in Sandusky. Labeled as a new handcrafted chocolate shop, Great Lakes Chocolate features handmade chocolates, caramels, a rotating selection of bonbons, candied nuts and other confections produced in-house. The production space is visible from the retail area, allowing customers to observe the chocolate-making process. "This has been something we have talked about for a few years," co-owner Mike Hicks said. "My sister was a chocolatier for about a decade, and, as we traveled to other Great Lakes coastal towns, shops like this were staples in those cities and towns. We felt it was something Sandusky was missing." Also co-owned by Ryan Henry, this expands their presence within the Marketplace, joining their existing ventures of Henry's Shoppes and Wild Thistle. "We are going to be making most of what we sell in-house," Henry said. "Those who come in will be able to see the full production space, and possibly us making them." The owners selected downtown Sandusky for its continued growth and energy. "We love being downtown and being a part of the continued growth of the city," Henry said. People can learn more by visiting Facebook and searching for "Great Lakes Chocolate."