Village People: Adorable Chocolat
What started as a restaurant across the street from “the best chocolate factory in Atlantic Canada”, has grown into a thriving business that’s dedicated to helping health-conscious people enjoy more chocolate.
We sat down with Sébastien Després, owner of Adorable Chocolat, to hear how he and his wife transformed a café with untapped potential into a booming success, the inspiration behind their whimsical décor, and what’s coming next.
Q: What’s your favourite colour?
A: Blue.
Q: Where did you get the idea for your business?
A: We owned a restaurant just across the street from the chocolate factory, and every day, we’d see them selling these incredible chocolates — the best in Atlantic Canada. But it was never as busy as we thought it should be, and we couldn’t help but wonder why.
We figured a big part of it was that the café space wasn’t being fully used. So, we decided to buy the business and really put that space to work. And since then, it’s been booming!
Q: How did you come up with the name of your business?
A: The business has actually been running under this name for nearly 14 years now. We took the name Adorable Chocolat and made it even more adorable by connecting it with Alice from Alice in Wonderland.
Q: Did you have a different job before you opened your business? What did you do?
A: My wife and I come from an academic background, so before we got into the restaurant and tourism business, I was teaching at a university.
Q: Why did you want to set up shop at AREA 506?
A: I met Ray Gracewood a couple of years ago, and I was instantly impressed by his vision. It really clicked with mine. The Container Village captures so much of what makes New Brunswick great.
I knew it would be an awesome place to build new partnerships in southern New Brunswick and to connect with thousands of visitors.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be a polymath — someone who’s curious about everything and never stops learning. And that’s pretty much what I’ve become. I love diving into new things, picking up new skills, and giving just about anything a try.
Q: Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
A: Honestly, no, I wouldn’t change a thing. We got incredibly lucky in so many ways, and I can’t count on having that kind of luck again. Sure, there are things I could’ve done smarter, but I wouldn’t take a different path.
Q: What do you consider your biggest success?
A: I think my biggest success has been having the freedom to pursue what I truly wanted. When I decided I wanted to be a business owner, I went for it — and thankfully, it worked out. I’d say my biggest achievement is having the grit and determination to make it happen.
Q: What’s next?
A: We’re expanding in Shediac — we now have five locations there, plus this one, and one in Dieppe. We’re looking at even more growth and increasing the size of our business every year. The goal is to just keep growing!
Are you an entrepreneur with a business that you think would be great fit in the Waterfront Container Village? email hidden; JavaScript is required — we’d love to hear from you!