Barkeater Chocolates is celebrating their 10th anniversary on Saturday, June 9 in North Creek, NY. The festivities will include various businesses throughout the town and at the Barkeater Factory Store at 3235 Route 28.
In 2008, Barkeater Chocolates started with co-founder Deb Morris making truffles two days a week at a North Creek bakery while the bakery was closed. Today, Barkeater is a full-time operation that employs several chocolatiers, packaging and retail associates. The manufacturing facility and factory store is located just a mile away from Café Sarah, the bakery where it all began. Deb & Jim Morris founded the company 10 years ago at a time when there were limited choices available in the marketplace for affordable artisan chocolates. According to Deb Morris, “We have always believed in using wholesome ingredients to create a flavorful taste experience with each bite.”
Since its inception, Barkeater has grown their line of confections from only truffles to include Barkeater Bars, Grown up Peanut Butter Cups, Barkeater Bark, caramels, seasonal products and much more. According to Andrea Hogan, Town of Johnsburg Supervisor, “Barkeater’s treats have become a part of my life in the past ten years. Not only do I celebrate with their chocolate, but I feel that their company has added to the fabric of our town in so many ways.”
The anniversary celebration on June 9 includes various specials at area restaurants featuring Barkeater Chocolates. Marsha’s on Main Street will offer Barkeater chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast while barVino will include Barkeater in their pot de crème dessert special. Also on the menu will chicken with mole sauce at Basil and Wicks, a flourless chocolate torte at Café Sarah and Orange Cranberry Chocolate chunk cookies at Izzy’s Market.
While customers are eating their way through town, the festivities will be in full swing at the Barkeater factory store. Beginning at 11:00, free tee-shirts and slices of celebratory chocolate cake will be given away until they’re gone. There will be complimentary hot dogs, snacks and beverages from 11-1. A chocolate dipping station and S’More’s station will be available until 3:00. In addition, there will be haunted chocolate factory tours from 12-3 and retro products in the store for sale.
Jim Morris, co-founder says, “We’re bringing back the Cranberry Coastal and Milky Mountain Mud Bars in retro packaging for the celebration. There’ll also be a few throwback truffle flavors on sale that day.” Every product purchase on June 9 will be discounted 10%, which represents 10 years in business.