Wonka Tours-out, Askinosie Tours-in!

Wednesday, March 12 2008 (09:51AM) | Posted by Nicole Corwin | Commercial Street

No Golden Ticket Necessary: Askinosie Chocolate Introduces a Second Factory Tour

Responding to the great number of requests for factory tours, Askinosie Chocolate introduces an additional public tour time: Thursdaysat 5pm. Askinosie Chocolate offers factory tours to educate the community and visitors about artisan chocolate making. Factory tours are also the means of support for Chocolate University – a collaborative partnership of Askinosie Chocolate, Boyd Elementary School, and Drury University formed to provide a transdisciplinary learning experience to Boyd Elementary students through the lens of artisan chocolate-making.

“We are excited that the demand for tours has become great enough to need an additional public tour time,” says founder and chocolate maker, Shawn Askinosie, “the more people that tour our factory, the greater the contribution to Chocolate University.” Until now, the public tours were only available on Tuesdays at 3pm. The new tour time on Thursdays, being later in the afternoon, will make factory tours available to those previously unable to attend because of work, school, or other obligations.

The Askinosie Chocolate factory sits one block from Springfieldʼs largest homeless shelter. On any given night the shelter houses 70-80 kids, many of whom attend Boyd Elementary. Chocolate University makes it possible for Askinosie Chocolate to participate in the lives of kids in the neighborhood. And, since Chocolate University is funded by factory tours, adding a second tour time allows other members of the community to sow into these kidsʼ lives as well. Public tours are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children and students, and 100% of the tour proceeds go directly to the Chocolate University program. Askinosie Chocolate also offers private tours that can be scheduled by calling 417.862.9900.