The wait is over.
Highly anticipated, an international dessert cafe embracing the motto “In Chocolate We Trust” debuts Dec. 13 in Jacksonville — its first United States location.
Chocolate Bar, headquartered in Dubai, launches its soft opening at 1 p.m. at 7570 Gate Parkway, Units 107-108 in The Palms at Gate Parkway retail and restaurant center between St. Johns Town Center and IKEA on the Southside.
The “high-end” dessert restaurant announced the opening in a Dec. 8 Instagram post.
Chocolate Bar promises “A Magical Chocolate Experience.”
Signature desserts include decadent crepes, waffles, pancakes, creamy cookies, milk cakes, muffins, and even a burger, pasta, and pizza — all handcrafted in-house with premium Belgian chocolate.
“If you are a chocolate lover, you should be joining us,” Wael Arnous, president, owner and founder of Chocolate Bar Inc., recently told the Times-Union amid final preparations at the roughly 2,010-square-foot cafe.
Chocolate Bar describes itself as the “ultimate destination for chocolate lovers” with at least 45 locations in 10 countries.
Jacksonville beat out multiple other potential locations to become the first Chocolar Bar in the country, Arnous said.
“Jacksonville is my community. I live here, that’s why I chose it,” said Arnous, whose Chocolate Bar Inc. is the master franchiser for the United States.
He’s already fielding inquiries for potential future locations in Orlando and New York.
In addition to offering a diverse selection of unique desserts, Chocolate Bar also has its own customized and registered chocolate line in one of Belgium’s top chocolate factories.
‘In Chocolate We Trust’
“We are 100% pure Belgian chocolate. The unique part of our concept is that everything is done in our kitchen. We do it from scratch,” Arnous said. “That’s why everything will be fresh daily and 100% Belgian chocolate.”
Belgian chocolate, known for its high quality, ingredients and craftsmanship, is considered the benchmark for chocolate.
“Everything is unique in our shop,” Arnous said.
Chocolate Bar describes its menu as “dessert art pieces.”
Highlighted on its social media, signature offerings include the Pistachio Pancake, which is a Dubai chocolate-style pancake; the Brownie Crepe, a folded crepe filled with warm brownie slices, then covered with chocolate; and The Mood Maker Creamy Cookies, which is described as a combination of chocolate and espresso featuring crunchy cookies, cream cheese and vanilla ice cream.
Chocolare Bar also features milkshakes, hot chocolate, smoothies, frappes, coffee mochas, iced teas, fruit juices, and coffee, according to its online menu.
Global journey to Jacksonville
FNB Chocolate Bar, parent company of the cafe, was founded in 2014 in Beirut, Lebanon.
The company “was born out of a mutual desire to create a product that people would love.” Its philosophy is rooted in the idea that chocolate is timeless and versatile, the website also said.
Headquartered in Dubai, FNB currently lists cafes open in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Congo, Senegal and the Ivory Coast. At least five more are in the works.
The Jacksonville cafe is sandwiched between Foxtail Coffee and Fore Score Golf Tavern, and across the parking lot from 14 Prime, and adjacent V Pizza + Sidecar in the retail center, off Interstate 295.
Chocolate Bar, which has about 60 seats inside and 20 outside, expects to be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Arnous said.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: International dessert cafe makes US debut in Jacksonville. Here’s when
Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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