Recently, the news that Ruben’s chocolates was closing up shop hit close to my heart. Ruben’s had an amazing selection of delicacies, and their homemade ice cream was to die for. And the sauce! Oh my heart aches for the sauce.
That leaves us with really one dedicated chocolate shop left in Champaign-Urbana, Moonstruck. Recently Moonstruck, which used to have two C-U locations but now is down to the one in Campustown, was featured in the News-Gazette’s beautifully designed At Home magazine. Moonstruck offers C-U’s best cup of hot cocoa, in my humble opinion.
Moonstruck is a national chain out of Oregon, and evidently it has fallen on hard times in our state’s big city. Last week Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Moonstruck is bowing out of the crowded Magnificent Mile chocolate scene. I hope this is not an omen for our Moonstruck. In fact, this now means that we have something that Chicago doesn’t.
5 responses so far ↓
Mrs. Chicken // May 5, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Don’t forget Flescor’s in Lincoln Square. And this summer they will be selling their homemade ice cream.
Gnightgirl // May 5, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I’m upset about Reuben’s too. I have high hopes for cupcake bars to figure out their dynamics. We are short of sugahhhhh here in this berg.
lbotp // May 5, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Mrs. C — Yeah, I didn’t factor in Fannie May either. I think be/c Rubens and Moonstruck are/were destinations in and of themselves.
Gnight — Yeah, and I’m not supposed to eat that stuff anyway
The cupcake place — yeah, I’ll write about that at some point.
Jason // May 6, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I have some serious doubts whether that cupcake place has its business model nailed down… it’s close, but not quite there. If it were up to me, I’d make it *the* C-Udessert destination.
I’m not a big sweet tooth. I almost never eat milk chocolate. When I’m in the mood for good chocolate, it’s not going to be in the form of a $2 molded, filled-with-goo concoction like what Ruben’s & Moonstruck sell. And I’m not usually a fan of factory-made candy like Fannie May (though the turtles/pixies and mint meltaways remind me of Christmas). I prefer the Vosges chocolate bars (Mo’s Bacon Bar, anyone?), or just good, plain, solid dark chocolate.
peanuts mom // May 6, 2008 at 2:08 pm
You can get Taza Chocolate at Artmart. The BEST chocolate, hands down. That is something Chicago doesn’t have yet.
Moonstruck is pretty bad really, better off getting a shake at potbelly. Having a chocolate cafe is nice, but there is much better chocolate out there. Vosges isn’t too bad, but too trendy, and not what you want when you just want some really good chocolate. Run, don’t walk to grab some Taza, their hot chocolate is totally amazing.
http://www.tazachocolate.com/
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