Help yourself to some Easter candy? Don’t mind if we do.
Grab a handful of chocolate-covered salted popcorn? Now, you’re talking.
Have a slice of flourless chocolate cake? What’s going on here?
Residents of Bordentown City know the deal. Twice a year, the town hosts one of the most unique economic-attraction events in the state: The Chocolate Walk.
The now 15-year-old tradition, the brainchild of the Downtown Bordentown Association, is an opportunity for the town to celebrate the more than two dozen small businesses in the town.
By handing out chocolate.
George Xuereb, owner of Icon Boutique and the soon-to-open Haberdashery and Home, a men’s clothing and accessory store, loves the concept.
“It’s a great community event,” he said. “It’s great for people to come into the town and check out new businesses, check out coffee shops, check out the restaurants and get a little sampling.”
For his part, Xuereb was handing out Bouchard chocolate bars with information on his new businesses attached.
And if you think all of this is hokey, then you don’t know Bordentown City.
Located a few miles south of Trenton — at the confluence of Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek — Bordentown City is an incredibly walkable community known for its historic small-town charm.
Many of the homes and buildings are more than 150 years old — and come with plenty of history.
There’s the Clara Barton Schoolhouse — a nationally significant historic site where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, taught early in her career.
And the Joseph Bonaparte’s Point Breeze Estate — who knew Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother settled just outside the city limits.
Of course, those sites don’t bring a crowd in the way that chocolate does.
That was clear last week.
Families pushing strollers and couples holding hands could be found along Farnsworth Avenue and Crosswicks Street, going from business to business for a little chocolate and a catch-up conversation.
They went to Marcello’s for the chocolate-covered salted popcorn. And Toscano and Angelo’s (owned by the same restaurant group) for two different versions of flourless chocolate cake.
The Ice Cream Boutique had cups of their homemade chocolate ice cream. The Candy Jar provided the best chocolate covered pretzel this writer has ever had — in both milk and dark chocolate.
And for those with certain dietary restrictions, Nola B’s Gluten-Free gave out their house made gluten-free chocolate chip cookie.
Other businesses took advantage of the opportunity to show off their culture.
Smachna Kawa Coffee Shop, a Ukrainian owned establishment, gave out Ukrainian chocolate. Boyd’s Pharmacy and Liquors gave out easter chocolate with a side of THC seltzer.
And Jurassic Bark, a dog groomer, had their puppies running around for the kids — and some adults — to say hello.
Most impressive of all, the Bordentown Historical Society had a dozen of their members make their best chocolate treats and gave them out inside of the historic friends meeting house, circa 1740.
Xuereb, who also sits on the board of the Downtown Bordentown Society, said the event has become a community staple.
“There’s such a warm, welcoming community,” he said. “The people who live here really enjoy it.”
Missed it? No worries. It will be back again this fall.
And if you go, make sure you get the chocolate-covered salted popcorn from Marcello’s — it earned our unofficial blue ribbon.
