Susan Mazzone started Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates 20 years ago. At first, she was making chocolates out of her home kitchen. The business was named after her daughter, Ava Marie, and her son was the the self-proclaimed “president.”
“As it grew, we needed a retail spot,” Mazzone said.
So she moved into their longtime location in downtown Peterborough.
“It’s like an extended family and friends seeing people come in year after year,” she said.
Dec. 28 will be Ava Marie’s last day downtown, but the business will live on and it will still be in Peterborough. Regina Whelan has purchased Ava Marie and the handcrafted-chocolate store will open in the Peterborough Shopping Plaza in January in Unit 10, between Beds Plus and H&R Block.
“I came to a point in my life where I was ready for a new challenge,” Whelan said, and Ava Marie felt like the perfect opportunity.
Whelan has a background in color marketing, created a children’s photography program and has experience with filmmaking.
“I like to continue to work on art,” she said.
Whelan works with acrylics, photography, alcohol ink and multimedia. And she has found that chocolate-making is an art in itself.
“Chocolate has such a chameleon-like quality to it,” Whelan said. “The creative possibilities are endless.”
Whelan has relocated to the area from Connecticut after buying the shop. She has been working in the store since August, and is enjoying getting to know the area.
“It’s such a solid base that new ideas will be introduced very slowly,” Whelan said, “Susan’s team here is amazing.”
The staff is staying on at the new location, and there are some perks of moving.
“I think on a whole it will be so much easier for parking in the new location,” Mazzone said, “People aren’t going to be used to it at first, but it will be the same great chocolate, the same great ice cream.”
Whelan is planning to add Belgian waffles to the menu, and believes it will be a fun new item, with opportunities to add chocolate ganache and home-made whipped cream on top.
Ava Marie’s employees have been handing cards to customers as they check out letting them know about the move, including the new location and the new logo that Whelan designed herself.
Mazzone said the overall response has been very positive.
“I think customers appreciate when you tell them up front,” she said. “Sometimes change is good.”
Mazzone looks forward to traveling and spending time with her family after she officially steps back from the business.
The move has been a big project, and Whelan said, “It’s forced me into learning all aspects of the business. I want to make sure I do Susan’s business justice.” She will announce the new location’s opening once they have an official date.
“It’s such a wonderful sweet spot,” Whelan said.
Ava Marie Chocolates can be found on its website, avamariechocolates.com. It is also active on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.