Philadelphia, PA
- MECHA, a handmade confection chocolate store, opened its second location on East Passyunk Ave at 1618 East Passyunk Avenue. Founded by Melissa Crandley, MECHA offers various unique chocolate flavors and structures committed to using natural ingredients for an authentic taste.
MECHA, A Handmade Confection Chocolate Store
Melissa, a former financial analyst turned chocolatier, discovered her passion for chocolate-making after attending the Culinary Art Institute of Philadelphia and working in renowned kitchens in Philadelphia.
Starting out in a tiny communal kitchen, Melissa sold her chocolates at farmers' markets before expanding and opening her first brick-and-mortar store in Haddonfield, NJ, in 2019. With the Haddonfield store reaching capacity, opening a second location has been a year in the making. MECHA's new production facility in Hainesport, NJ, will support the second location and allow for new flavors and spreads using larger machinery.
Melissa and her team continuously explore new techniques and flavors in their chocolate creations. They strive to offer a range of ever-evolving chocolate options that are both modern and familiar, such as walnut pralines and mango passion fruit-coated caramels.
The name "MECHA" combines Melissa's and her husband Charles' names, symbolizing his involvement in getting the first location up and running. MECHA's East Passyunk location will be open seven days a week, providing chocolate lovers with a dedicated chocolate haven.
