In the timeless words of Shakespeare, "What's in a name?" Naming a business is both an art and a science, blending creativity with strategic thinking. One must carefully think of something that's catchy and will stick for years to come. Oftentimes, it comes from a family name, a memory, or something unique to the establishment. When the name is well-chosen, it creates an instant connection.

Chocolaterie Stam’s roots trace back to 1816, when Jacobus Stam ran a bakery in a small town called Assendelft, located in Holland. Over time, Stam’s bakery developed a reputation for quality pastries and chocolates. After receiving numerous requests from devout customers urging him to specialize exclusively in chocolates, Jacobus Stam pursued a newfound passion, launching Chocolaterie Stam in 1913. In 1930, Jacobus’ children--sons Frits, Wim and Jaap, and his only daughter, Fredi--each decided to join their father in business. The youngest of Frits’ seven sons, Ton, felt that America would appreciate his father’s chocolate as much as Netherlanders did, and decided to bring fine chocolate to the United States.

The tradition of making fine Dutch chocolate continues in America at Chocolaterie Stam’s corporate store, where their production facility is located. Here, Ton’s nephew, Erik, shares his love, passion and skill for making exquisite bonbons and fine confections. In each of their stores, Chocolaterie Stam now offers exquisite bonbons and other fine confections, their own rich coffee blend, and more than 50 flavors of homemade Italian gelato and sorbetto.

Today, with so much rich history behind every detail, a trip to Chocolaterie Stam is an experience like no other. It’s not just the taste of our treats you’ll love – it’s also the intoxicating scent of fresh truffles, the inviting warmth of the cozy shop, and the exciting experience of selecting your own favorite sweets to take home and explore – just as people have for more than 100 years.