Xoxolat chocolate shop is foodie nirvana, full of treats and delicacies that will delight any chocoholic. Inside, the brightly lit store’s nooks and crannies artfully showcase every possible chocolate confection. Named for the Mayan word for chocolate, Xoxolat sells their own line and countless ethically sourced brands.
Owner Hodie Rondeau opened the store on a dare from her accountant, who suggested payment could be made in the form of chocolate. Hodie quickly learned that chocolate and its many forms were a source of vitamins, antioxidants and health benefits that appealed to her interest in natural health. “The more I learned about good chocolate, the more I learned that it doesn’t have to be junk,” Hodie says. Today, the store is Canada’s largest retailer of single origin chocolate bars, while also selling delicious and decorative chocolate shoes – yes, shoes – adorned with fun colours and patterns.