Feature Photos: Cranbrook 2nd Grader Wins Schakolad Costume Contest

During the neighborhood Halloween party, businesses near Schakolad and Mills Pharmacy handed out candy and cupcakes to trick-or-treaters.

Schakolad Birmingham Chocolate got all dressed up for Halloween this year, as did dozens of local trick-or-treaters during a neighborhood Halloween party on Wednesday. Schakolad spearheaded the community-wide Halloween party, working together with neighboring businesses such as Mills Pharmacy, Level One Bank, Comerica Bank, Douglas Cleaners as well as the Chesterfield Fire Station to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters from Birmingham's west side. “We love being located in a vibrant neighborhood and welcoming families into our shop,” said Douglas Cale, owner of Schakolad Birmingham Chocolate. “Our handmade chocolates are treats all year-round, but Halloween is a fun time to get creative with candy and treats and come together as a …

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Building Easter Baskets For Kids and Adults

Emily Barker of Schakolad shares tips for constructing the perfect Easter basket.

Easter baskets aren't just for kids. In fact, Emily Barker, owner of Schakolad Chocolate Factory's Northville location, said that some of her most popular baskets are for adults. Whoever you're constructing a basket for, there are a few things to keep in mind while assembling homemade ones: What does your Easter basket look like? Share it by clicking the "Upload Photos and Videos" button below the photos on this page.

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Party Picks: 4 Fun Wedding Party Favors

Photo strips, candles and sweets make great gifts for wedding guests.

With such a huge variety of party favors available, it’s hard to pin down the trendiest favors. Area businesses that cater to the wedding industry suggest a handful of hot items to offer wedding guests: One of the hot additional items to rent for a wedding is a photo booth. Infinity Photobooth out of Clawson provides couples a large photo booth capable of holding 15-20 people – with the ability to capture about 14 of those faces at one time. Unlimited packages are offered, so there is no cap to the number of pictures guests can make goofy faces for and walk away with. “The good thing about a photo booth is that transcends all ages,” said Izumi Mason, a partner at Infinity Photobooth, which is one of several businesses that will be at …

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On the Storefront

Candy Stores Hope to Better Serve Community By Relocating

Schakolad and Sanders are preparing to move to new spots in Birmingham, both hoping to better their business and expand their customer base.

Got a sweet tooth? Don't get turned around this fall, as Schakolad Chocolate Factory and Sanders Candy — two of Birmingham's sweet staples — continues to prepare to relocate within the next few months. The two shops are in the process of moving to new locations within the city, with Schakolad moving out of downtown to a new space on West Maple Road near the soon-to-be renovated Mills Pharmacy. Sanders, meanwhile, will be moving away from its strip mall spot near Kroger and into Schakolad's former downtown home on Old Woodward. When Schakolad opened its doors on Old Woodward Avneue more than three years ago, franchise owner Doug Cale said that despite the recession, the chocolate shop found a dynamic and constantly evolving clinetele. …

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