What to do when the product has a great potential but everything around it is not quite right? That's what's Adam & Eve Chocolatier at Maitland/Church is at the moment. First, you don't know what it is until you're right in front of it. The singage were just small especially if they are relying on walk in clientele. There is no marketing about it so unless you live in the area, the employees will be sitting pretty without much work to do everyday.
Here's the lowdown on the problems:
1. There are vodka bottles along with the chocolates but the place does not have a liquor license.
2. There is a big space for a nice cafe outside but nope, its speckled with rocks leading up to the coffee shop.
3. The entrance is barricaded with plants so you have to walk around these plants to get to the counter (wrong idea)
4. The employees don't really have much to do it seems so why are there open boxes and litter around the coach area?
5. The logo has the same apple leaf as the apple leaf logo
6. The female owner gave us attitude when we mentioned that AE may sound like American Eagle - was that offending? It was a test lady on how you deal with unpleasant comments from customers. It was not even a complaint and she was already defensive and with raised eyebrow said "Well I'm adam and even chocolatier" and with a huff and puff she looks away! WTF? What happens if there are actual complaints? Would she give the same attitude?
7. You go in to a no atmosphere location with bland stares at you from people at the counter - did we just bother them with us coming in?
8. We asked for the supposedly thick drinking chocolate (remember that chocolate that Starbucks offered last year which bombed so not sure why they are selling this but we wanted to try it because they were talking about it) they had but the answer "oh no we didn't make it today" without offering alternatives. They just lost a $40 sale because there was a group of us and we all walked away instead and gave our money to the coffee shop next door.
Here's the lowdown on what works:
1. The green walls look different and may actually be leveraged IF done right - we'll see what they make of that
2. The pretty people at the counter have potential IF they don't have so much excuses on why nothing is available
3. The almond chocolate is good but not Leonidas good just a bit better than the regular store brand, the chocolate orange peel is to be desired. I'd stay away from the colored candies. They say ice cream is forthcoming - do they want to compete with Baskin Robbins which is on the main drag (click here for the BR game)? They have a coffee machine but we have not seen it used. We have not seen anyone there. They have been opened since Feb 14 but we've not seen traffic. Its the height of busy season. They are excited about Pride and the hope that people will be there. Those people are tourists, take care of the locals. Right now, we feel we were not taken cared of.
Overall rating? NOT World Class. NEED to Upgrade Something.
Service? Bad. NOT World Class.
Food Quality? Upgrade Something
Comments (4)
Can you do better????
Been there recently???
Posted by I. leslie | October 13, 2007 5:08 PM
Posted on October 13, 2007 17:08
Been there recently (I actually never even knew of them until I read this review... even though I pass by it every day.) Received the same questionable service. Chocolate was OK, but there are a lot of places with good chocolate who treat me better. Final decision: meh.
Posted by Chris M | October 17, 2007 10:23 AM
Posted on October 17, 2007 10:23
i agree this store sucks ,and juss to let every1 know,they dont just treat customers bad tehy treat ther employees worst.me being an ex employee they tried scamming me for hours and ripping me off ,making me work 10 hour shifts with only 1 half hr break,and treating me like crap cuz ther business sucks. honestly thers no advertising the management sucks ,the chocolates sorry to say are not worth the quality ,i used to work at godiva chocolatier and those chocolates are mass made and sent from the states and tastes 100 times better. the thick drinking chocolate is so gross , the almonds are good but really thers nothing special about this place ,only that its bare and empty and not welcoming.as for thew employees guys ,dont hate on them they go under so much stress from the owner and and management because thers so much negative energy ther .to top it off thers no washroom, or wireless internet in ther to even sit and do anything
Posted by peter | October 31, 2007 2:05 AM
Posted on October 31, 2007 02:05
Hi Peter,
I as a resident of the area around the store and a frequent consumer at Adam and Eve think that you and your fellows have been quick to judge a store that only came into being late last spring. Your initial judgment of the place was done before it had even officially opened, and as a result clearly you did not see the store that stands there today. As for the "ex" employees comment I am curious is his negativity (and inability to spell correctly) could have been the reason for his vicious grudge against the store?
The new truffles at the store created by their own Swiss Master are absolutely delicious. They were loved and devoured by all those whom I bought them for over the holidays.
Posted by Harold deDriez | January 2, 2008 2:37 PM
Posted on January 2, 2008 14:37