Local artisanal chocolate shop brings sweet treats to St. Armands

Liv Baker's first job was working at a chocolate shop, and she quickly found she had a talent for slinging sweets. Now, as the store manager of the original Chocolate Emporium on Anna Maria Island, she is putting that love for lollies to use in helping pilot the next steps for a multistore brand with the opening of a second location on St. Armands Circle.

"I really just fell in love with chocolate making, coming from an artistic background," she said, explaining how the independent brand gives her and her team creative freedom to experiment with new flavors and chocolate designs. "It's a lot of fun."

The dazzling display windows showcase a variety of chocolate truffles, clusters, fudges, barks, brownies, blondies and buckeyes. No treat is safe from the chocolate-dipping treatment, from pretzels to Oreos, caramel, Twinkies, bacon and beyond.

Owners Kevin and Ruth Schreiner, family friends of Baker, have been hard at work preparing to open the St. Armands location since leasing the 1,446-square-foot unit on South Boulevard of the Presidents.

Kevin Schreiner and Baker said they envision the shop being uniquely tailored to local tastes. Because they make the chocolate and caramel in house, they can take requests for new flavors and combinations. If, for example, a customer loves the peanut butter cups but wishes they came in dark chocolate, they can always ask the owners. Especially as the shop gets to better know the tastes of area shoppers, the Schreiners said they welcome the input.

Chocolate Emporium was the final tenant to lease out one of three units at the property on 28 S. Boulevard of the Presidents. The space withstood severe damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the owner completely renovated the space in the two years since.

The emporium's opening follows that of Acadia Jewels Fine Jewelry & Design in January and Le Shop last November.

"I think we all complement one another nicely," Kevin Schreiner said of the row of shops.

Baker said when scouting locations for a second store, the team wanted to stick nearby, perhaps in St. Pete or downtown Sarasota. However, when they saw a space was available on that block of St. Armands, they knew it would be the perfect fit.

"I think this is going to be the first of many," Baker said. "Our first location opened in August, not even a year ago, and it's done amazing. We're expanding fast."

Especially considering it was her first business undertaking, Baker said she is proud the store has garnered 75 online reviews via Google and boasts a 4.9-star rating.

"We have been getting amazing feedback from locals and tourists alike," she said.

The Scotland-based Schreiners said they have appreciated getting to know their neighbors on the boutique-filled street of St. Armands Key, and they look forward to contributing to the retail district's unique character with their offerings.

"On Anna Maria, you can sit down for an ice cream or a coffee," Kevin Schreiner said, explaining that St. Armands is more tailored to the on-the-go shopper.

However, the second location still carries plenty of favorite treats from the original shop.

When it comes to flavors, the chocolatiers highlight Florida favorites like Key lime pie. But they've also ventured into more unique offerings, like their butterscotch haystacks, pickle-flavored fudge, and limited-edition bacon and caramel bark. That bark doesn't include some premade bacon bits — if you walk into the shop at the right time, you can smell bacon sizzling away.

Of course, what shop opening in 2026 would be complete without sweets inspired by the pistachio Dubai chocolate trend?

Baker said they source their chocolate from Merckens, a supplier that has worked with North American confectioners since 1921.

"We make our caramel homemade, in a copper kettle in small batches," she added. "We're usually making it all day, every day."

Kevin Schreiner said reaching opening day has been an all-hands-on-deck effort by all his nearby family and friends.

He sees the shop fitting nicely into the overall experience of an evening on St. Armands. After patrons enjoy dinner at one of their restaurant neighbors, perhaps at the newly opened Flambo restaurant or recently reopened and rebranded Nōnnō Umberto, they can shop for a little after-dinner sweet at the emporium.

For afternoon shoppers looking to beat the heat, the shop offers plenty of other cold treats. In the back, the freezer has a selection of classic hard-scoop ice cream flavors. Flavored frozen lemonade and frozen coffee are also on tap.

Opposite the chocolate display case is one full wall dedicated to interesting premade candies, including classics like Zots and Satellite Wafers.

"It really is a one-stop shop," Schreiner added.

By offering a taste of everything, the owners said they hope the emporium will be able to satisfy the sweet tooth of anyone who walks through the door.

Baker said, "Pretty much anything you can think of, we probably have it dipped in chocolate."