Woodblock Chocolate
| Woodblock Chocolate | |
|---|---|
Logo | |
Exterior of the facility in Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood, 2025 | |
| Owners | Charley and Jessica Wheelock |
| Website | woodblockchocolate |
Woodblock Chocolate is a chocolate company based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The business operates a manufacturing facility in Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood.
Description
[edit]The chocolate company Woodblock Chocolate is based in Portland, Oregon, operating a 4,500-square-foot shop and manufacturing facility at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Broadway in Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood.[1][2]
The New York Times has described Woodblock as "a family-run manufactory and shop, where you can watch the chocolate-making process, gorge on samples and buy sesame, salted nib or single origin bars".[3] Portland Monthly has described Woodblock as a "husband-and-wife-owned high-end chocolate company".[4] The business has sold dark chocolate heart pops for Valentine's Day.[5]
History
[edit]Woodblock is Portland's first bean-to-bar business.[6][7] Charley and Jessica Wheelock are co-owners.[6][8][9] Woodblock products became available at Olympia Provisions in 2011.[10] In 2014, the business announced plans to open a retail location in Southeast Portland.[11]
In 2015, Woodblock's 100-gram Trinidad Fundare bar sold for $100.[12][13] Proceeds from the bar benefitted the Cocoa Research Centre.[14] In 2016, Woodblock collaborated with the cannabis shop Serra Cannabis to create a collection of edibles.[15] There was a burglary at Woodblock in 2019.[16]
Spella Caffè operated from Woodblock's facility,[17] until 2025.[18] In 2025, Sea Wolf Bakers co-founder Jesse Schumann announced plans to launch a bakery called Woodblock Bakery from within Woodblock Chocolate.[19][20] Woodblock Bakery hosted on-site sourdough classes.[21] The business became known as Shorebird Bakery and relocated to Northwest Portland in 2026.[22]
Woodblock has made custom chocolate for Bakeshop.[23][24] Little T American Baker has served chocolate chip cookies with chocolate from Woodblock.[25] Salt & Straw has also used chocolate from Woodblock.[26]
Reception
[edit]Mattie John Bamman of Eater Portland called Woodblock "one of the city's most renowned chocolate producers" in 2016.[27] Woodblock was a runner-up in the Best Chocolatier category of Willamette Week's annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2020.[28] In 2022, Michael Alberty of The Oregonian called the business "one of America's premier bean-to-bar producers".[29] Katherine Chew Hamilton of Portland Monthly said Woodblock had the metropolitan area's best hot chocolate in 2023.[30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Portland's Woodblock Is Charley's Real-Life Chocolate Factory (and Café)". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Woodblock Chocolate Readies a Giant 'Manufactory' and Café Off NE Broadway". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Moon, Freda (2015-09-09). "36 Hours in Portland, Ore". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Neighborhood Guide: Irvington and the Lloyd District". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Here are 7 Oregon-made chocolates to buy your sweetheart this Valentine's Day". The Oregonian. 2022-01-31. Archived from the original on 2025-11-26. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- 1 2 "5 Questions for Rising Chocolatiers Charley & Jessica Wheelock". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Woodblock Chocolate". Willamette Week. 2019-08-20. Archived from the original on 2026-09-29. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Frane, Alex (2022-04-20). "Brooks Wine and Woodblock Chocolate Will Bring a Collaborative Tasting Room to Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2026-10-07. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Cope, Suzanne (2014-10-10). Small Batch: Pickles, Cheese, Chocolate, Spirits, and the Return of Artisanal Foods. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. ISBN 978-1-4422-2735-4.
- ↑ "The Chocolate Maker". Willamette Week. 2011-05-18. Archived from the original on 2026-08-09. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Woodblock Chocolate opening retail location in their Southeast Portland warehouse". The Oregonian. 2014-09-09. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "How one Portland chocolatier is solving the chocolate scarcity crisis, one super-bar at a time". The Oregonian. 2015-03-17. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "The $100 chocolate bar". Portland Tribune. 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Martineau, Chantal (2016-02-09). "Chocolate Isn't Cliché: 5 Cocoa Geek Brands to Try This Valentine's Day". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Cannabis edibles:
- Bamman, Mattie John (2016-12-13). "Portland Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Shop Launches Marijuana Edibles Line". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- "New Woodblock Chocolate line starts age of artisanal marijuana edibles in Portland". The Oregonian. 2016-12-13. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- "Here's How to Build Your Own Stoner Advent Calendar". Willamette Week. 2020-12-02. Archived from the original on 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Burglars steal some chocolate, tip jar cash during break-in at Portland chocolate shop". KATU. 2019-03-04. Archived from the original on 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Bryman, Howard (2024-10-30). "Spella Caffè Spreads La Dolce Vita with Cafe on Portland's East Side". Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Cheadle, Harry (2025-07-25). "8 Notable Restaurant and Bar Closures to Know in Portland for July 2025". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Seattle's great Sea Wolf Bakers will open a 'tiny' new bakery at Portland's Woodblock Chocolate". The Oregonian. 2025-08-04. Archived from the original on 2025-10-10. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Co-founder of top Seattle bakery set to open location in Northeast Portland". KATU. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Cheadle, Harry (2025-05-15). "A New Portland Pop-Up Is Recreating Food From Ancient Rome". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "With new name and home, Shorebird Bakery adds croissants, sourdough bread". The Oregonian. 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Portland's Best Breakfast Pastries to Make Your Morning". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Yentch, Katrina (2015-12-01). "The Best Bakeries in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-02-10). "Providore Fine Foods: A Comprehensive Guide to What to Eat". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Where to Eat & Drink in Portland's Division/Clinton Neighborhood". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2016-12-13). "Portland Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Shop Launches Marijuana Edibles Line". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS". Willamette Week. 2020-07-22. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "Days of wine and chocolates at Bons Amis in Northeast Portland". The Oregonian. 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
- ↑ "The Best (and Worst) Hot Chocolates from Portland and Beyond". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.