Bishop Arts District stalwart CocoAndr茅 Chocolatier is closing its storefront in Dallas鈥� Oak Cliff after almost 15 years. Mother-daughter owners Andrea and Cindy Pedraza have served specialty chocolates, pastries, and other sweet treats out of the cozy casita since 2009, but Cindy says it鈥檚 time for her mom to retire.
鈥淲hen my mom and I started this business, she was already 50,鈥� Cindy tells The Dallas Morning News. She is ready to retire 鈥渁nd take life a little bit easier.鈥� Cindy says CocoAndr茅 was built to showcase Andrea鈥檚 love and knowledge of chocolate making.
The shop will remain open through the end of 2023 or through spring 2024, depending on when the Oak Cliff cottage is sold, Cindy says. CocoAndr茅 will remain in Dallas after that, in a new form.
Cindy is still working on the future plans, but she says closing the labor-intensive storefront will 鈥渆mpower us to grow the business even more.鈥� She has plans to grow CocoAndr茅 nationally, becoming importers and selling chocolate and bottled horchata in grocery stores and other retail locations. Because CocoAndr茅 has always celebrated the Pedraza family鈥檚 Mexican roots, Cindy wants to teach, too.
鈥淲hat I really want to focus on for the future is education,鈥� Cindy says, 鈥渢aking people on tours, teaching them about ... where the chocolate is coming from, and actually meeting the makers and the growers. For me, that鈥檚 my next step.鈥�
Andrea will continue to be a strong presence in the business even though she鈥檚 retiring. 鈥淟ike all immigrant parents, there is no slowing down,鈥� Cindy says. 鈥淚 still see her spending half the day here.鈥�
CocoAndr茅 Chocolatier is located at 508 W. Seventh St., Dallas. .
ArtsAccess reporter Elizabeth Myong contributed to this story.
