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I'!rintable Version Page 1 of 2 4 � t Chocolate lovers'heavennplanned for Clements . By Ripley Ho,ve/News-Sentinel Staff Writer Chocolate factory: Those two words can be enough to send a chocolate lover's senses reeling. In just a couple of months, and just a few miles east in Clements, an honest-to-goodness chocolate i factory is scheduled for completion. 5 The Chocoholics Divine Deserts 20,000-square-foot factory, expected to open in October near the corner of Highway 88 and Mackville Road, is the effort of Mary and Ernie Schenone. They are moving their specialty chocolate factory from its current location in Stockton, to a new custom building next to the existing historic brick Odd Fellows Hall in Clements with hopes of tapping into the nearby wine industry. , "The Odd Fellows is a fabulous building, and the land next to it was ideal," Mary Schenone said. In 1995, the Schenone's bought the Chocoholics Divine Deserts company,based in Eureka, and moved the factory to Stockton. When they bought the company, it.made nine different chocolate sauces, Schenone said. I Now the company makes dozens of different and extravagant chocolate confections, including cookies, chocolate-dipped teaspoons and decorated chocolates. Their big break came in 1998, when they added to their line a single item, called "Chocoholics Body a Frosting," complete with a small brush. "It was just a jar of our chocolate sauce," said Schenone,but it turned out to be a marketing masterstroke. "Now it's a gift that people buy for weddings or for special occasions." she said. The idea was so successful that it got write-ups in the international press, in magazines like Playboy, Glamour and GQ. They have now increased the body frosting line, with such frisky products as the "Strip Chocolate Game" and the "Body Talk Tattoo Set." They also extended the businesses' show and convention schedule to include the Las Vegas Lingerie Convention. "It puts a whole new meaning to 'Desert's on me!... reads the tag line for these products. 1 Sherry Wynn, a waitress at Lay's Roadhouse just across the street from the new chocolate factory, said she thinks it's cool. "Everybody is really looking forward to it, except for people who can't have chocolate," she said. "Chocolate is a big no-no for me," she added. http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2003/08/12/news/03_chocolate_030812.prt 8/12/2003