Media Release | July 6, 2023
San Leandro, California, July 6, 2023 - Ghirardelli Chocolate Company today announced it will reopen its second flagship store, the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco on Thursday, July 13, 2023. After a six-month renovation of the historic building, the store celebrates Ghirardelli’s history and craftmanship as a U.S. chocolate pioneer and the company’s legacy in San Francisco dating back to the 1850s. The new design features North America’s largest flowing chocolate wall, the original, 19-foot “G” from the marque Ghirardelli sign, a replica San Francisco cable car that doubles as a seating area, antique chocolate making equipment on display, and much more to discover.
“We can’t wait for the public to experience our redesigned iconic flagship store at Ghirardelli Square. This shop is located where in the 1960s we first served what is now our World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae,” said Joel Burrows, Ghirardelli’s President and CEO. “After being 171 years in business in San Francisco, we are proud of our deep roots in the city. We remain committed to helping Bay Area visitors and locals alike create sweet memories with their families and friends for many more chocolate-loving generations to come.”
Ghirardelli will celebrate the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop’s grand reopening on July 13 starting at 10:00 am with live music from Sueños, outdoor games and experiences throughout Ghirardelli Square. The newly renovated flagship store will officially reopen at 11:00 am when Grammy Award winner, legendary singer, and TV star Kelly Rowland, will lead the ceremonial ribbon cutting with the Ghirardelli management team and community partners. The public is invited to join the festivities, and in honor of Ghirardelli’s 171-year history, the first 171 people in line to enter the store will receive a free Ghirardelli World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae.
“As a true chocolate lover, I can’t wait to ring in Ghirardelli’s next chapter next chapter,” said Rowland. “No visit to San Francisco is complete without a delicious sundae at Ghirardelli Square. And now there’s an even more gorgeous setting for having that unique Ghirardelli chocolate experience.”
Introduced in 1966, the Original Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop was Ghirardelli’s first location that focused on sundaes. When it reopens, the menu will feature 15 different kinds of sundaes, including Ghirardelli’s World-Famous Hot Fudge Sundae. Additionally, the renovated store format will showcase other fountain and bakery favorites like milkshakes, hot chocolate, brownies, cookies and chocolate covered strawberries.
Among other elements of the elevated retail experience, visitors will get to enjoy a re-designed Pick n’ Mix space where they can customize souvenirs featuring their favorite Ghirardelli chocolate squares. The new space also embraces Ghirardelli’s rich San Francisco history with a tiled mural of the San Francisco skyline on the second floor, as well as vintage Ghirardelli advertisements in the warmly vibrant Sun Room.
Guests will be able to see the original, 19-foot Ghirardelli “G” up close. The Ghirardelli marquee sign, an icon that many travelers and locals alike identify with San Francisco, turns 100 this year. Aside from being rewired and outfitted with efficient, low-wattage bulbs, the sign components look just as they did in 1923, when illuminated displays were much more novel. Today’s sign is equipped with a Color Kinetics LED system that enables each letter to independently display a variety of colors.
The Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop redesign is the second part of a multi-phased renovation project for the brand at Ghirardelli Square. Last year, the company unveiled a completely reimagined Chocolate Experience Store, Ghirardelli’s other flagship retail space at Ghirardelli Square. The shop concept and design of the multi-phase renovation project has been led by Bay Area firm Eight Inc.
For updates on the renovation, please visit www.ghirardelli.com/StoreLocations-SanFranciscoSquare.
About The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Ghirardelli is passionate about quality bean to bar chocolate and all the ways its fans enjoy it. Founded in San Francisco in 1852 and now part Lindt & Sprüngli, the global leader in premium chocolate, Ghirardelli takes pride in producing consistently excellent chocolate products with high quality ingredients. Ghirardelli is one of the few large-scale U.S. chocolate companies that controls the entire manufacturing process, from cocoa bean sourcing and production to finished product. This approach, combined with Ghirardelli's proprietary bean blend and unique methods of roasting and processing, ensures customers are rewarded with an exceptional chocolate experience. Ghirardelli makes life a bite better! For more information, visit https://www.ghirardelli.com/about-ghirardelli.
Photos can be downloaded here.
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About Lindt & Sprüngli
Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 175 years. The traditional Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate sector. Today, Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 32 subsidiaries and regional offices, in around 500 of its own shops, as well as via a network of more than 100 independent distributors around the globe. With more than 14,000 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 4.97 billion in 2022.