Woodblock Chocolate

Woodblock Chocolate
OwnersCharley and Jessica Wheelock
Websitewoodblockchocolate.com

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

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.

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". Portland Monthly has described Woodblock as a "husband-and-wife-owned high-end chocolate company". The business has sold dark chocolate heart pops for Valentine's Day.

History

Woodblock is Portland's first bean-to-bar business. Charley and Jessica Wheelock are co-owners. Woodblock products became available at Olympia Provisions in 2011. In 2014, the business announced plans to open a retail location in Southeast Portland.

In 2015, Woodblock's 100-gram Trinidad Fundare bar sold for $100. Proceeds from the bar benefitted the Cocoa Research Centre. In 2016, Woodblock collaborated with the cannabis shop Serra Cannabis to create a collection of edibles. There was a burglary at Woodblock in 2019.

Spella Caffè operated from Woodblock's facility, until 2025. In 2025, Sea Wolf Bakers co-founder Jesse Schumann announced plans to launch a bakery called Woodblock Bakery from within Woodblock Chocolate. Woodblock Bakery hosted on-site sourdough classes. The business became known as Shorebird Bakery and relocated to Northwest Portland in 2026.

Woodblock has made custom chocolate for Bakeshop. Little T American Baker has served chocolate chip cookies with chocolate from Woodblock. Salt & Straw has also used chocolate from Woodblock.

Reception

Mattie John Bamman of Eater Portland called Woodblock "one of the city's most renowned chocolate producers" in 2016. Woodblock was a runner-up in the Best Chocolatier category of Willamette Week's annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2020. In 2022, Michael Alberty of The Oregonian called the business "one of America's premier bean-to-bar producers". Katherine Chew Hamilton of Portland Monthly said Woodblock had the metropolitan area's best hot chocolate in 2023.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Neighborhood Guide: Irvington and the Lloyd District". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. 1 2 "5 Questions for Rising Chocolatiers Charley & Jessica Wheelock". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  7. ↑ "Woodblock Chocolate". Willamette Week. 2019-08-20. Archived from the original on 2026-09-29. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "The Chocolate Maker". Willamette Week. 2011-05-18. Archived from the original on 2026-08-09. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "The $100 chocolate bar". Portland Tribune. 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Cannabis edibles:
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Cheadle, Harry (2025-07-25). "8 Notable Restaurant and Bar Closures to Know in Portland for July 2025". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  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.
  20. ↑ "Co-founder of top Seattle bakery set to open location in Northeast Portland". KATU. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ "With new name and home, Shorebird Bakery adds croissants, sourdough bread". The Oregonian. 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  23. ↑ "Portland's Best Breakfast Pastries to Make Your Morning". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  24. ↑ Yentch, Katrina (2015-12-01). "The Best Bakeries in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ "Where to Eat & Drink in Portland's Division/Clinton Neighborhood". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  27. ↑ 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.
  28. ↑ "FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS". Willamette Week. 2020-07-22. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.
  29. ↑ "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.
  30. ↑ "The Best (and Worst) Hot Chocolates from Portland and Beyond". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2026-10-19.

45°32′07″N 122°38′55″W / 45.5353°N 122.6486°W / 45.5353; -122.6486