Chocolaterie Stam craves opening of new stores
Chocolaterie Stam co-owner Ton Stam, whose family has been making and selling chocolate treats since 1817, said he and his business partner, David Clem, plan to open two new stores in West Des Moines in the next year.
Stam said plans are under way to open a store in the West Glen development near Jordan Creek Town Center by the fall of 2004. The chocolatiers also will add a second store in Valley West Mall.
Last week, the owners celebrated the Sept. 10 opening of their fourth store at the Windsor Heights Town Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Dutch family operation already has locations at 2814 Ingersoll Ave., downtown Pella and Valley West Mall. Stam described the new store’s indoor/outdoor café setting as a “perfect outlet” to market its latest product: gelatos.
“It’s easy to get to and our customers in that area will only have to take a trip down the street to enjoy quality chocolate and gelatos,” he said. Stam said his store’s gelato sales have achieved “triple-digit growth” since they began offering them three months ago. The Italian ice cream is available in a variety of flavors, including Italian cheesecake, pistachio and tiramisu, and sells for $2.50 to $3.50. Stam imported Italian machinery and ingredients to ensure the product’s authentic taste.
“We wanted it to be the top-of-the-line,” he said.
Encouraged by strong sales, Stam hopes to open a gelato shop in Valley West Mall later this fall, apart from the company’s chocolate store there.