New Tree
 

Customers at New Tree Chocolate’s first retail store won’t even have to open their wallets to experience the shop’s main attraction.

The Belgian chocolate maker’s store, located in San Francisco, is half café and half chocolate shop, and features a wall of chocolate where guests can sample any flavor of the company’s signature item.

The store, located at the corner of Ecker Place and Stevenson Street in the SoMa district, was constructed with recycled, repurposed, non-toxic and energy-efficient materials, emphasizing New Tree’s commitment to sustainability.

Along those same lines, the interior design is inspired by nature, featuring a glowing recycled glass counter and handcrafted bamboo canopy. In addition, sustainable bamboo was used for the built-in cabinetry, shelving and stools.

“Constructing the space in a sustainable way is just as important to us as our menu and products being organic and fairtrade,” says Benoit de Bruyn, founder and ceo of New Tree. “We wanted to create an incredibly special experience where people can savor delicious, healthy food in an environment of harmony.”

The café portion of the new space offers unique Belgian-inspired gourmet food and beverages made fresh daily.

The menu features a selection of pastries, salads, sandwiches, soups and snacks, along with coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Signature items made with New Tree chocolate include salad dressings, sandwich spreads, brownies, mousses, mi-cuits (chocolate fondant cakes), mendiants, speculoos (shortbread biscuits), florentines and hot chocolate.