A sweet success in Castle Rock
Community, Chocolate and Coffee

Whether shopping for the latest fashions, stopping for an afternoon treat, or taking an evening stroll through the Outlets at Castle Rock, visitors can recharge at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Café. Patrons can indulge in fresh fudge, hand-dipped treats and decadent chocolates with a fresh cup of coffee. For nearly a decade, husband-and-wife team Jacob and Bri Blaylock have turned a simple dream into a Castle Rock favorite through family values, entrepreneurship and community involvement.

 Jacob and Bri’s story began in St. Joseph, Missouri, where they first met as children. That childhood connection eventually developed into a relationship and the couple married in Missouri in 2014. Both attended Missouri Western State University, where Bri earned her nursing degree in 2015. While finishing his degree, Jacob entered Missouri Western’s entrepreneurship program, which challenged students to develop a business plan and compete for startup financing.

Jacob won the competition, and the Blaylocks opened a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory franchise in Petaluma, California. The couple moved there in June 2017, a month after the competition. “It really jump-started our careers as entrepreneurs,” said Bri. After training at the company’s headquarters in Durango, Colorado, they quickly grew the California store. When an opportunity arose at the Outlets at Castle Rock, they sold the California business back to the program and relocated to Colorado.

After first visiting Castle Rock and falling in love with the community, the couple jumped at the chance to make the town their home. “We had a dream of living here. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. We love this town and community,” said Jacob. When a storefront became available in December 2018, they officially opened their Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Café at the Outlets at Castle Rock.

The location is home to the first Café concept, pairing handcrafted confections with locally-roasted Daz Bog coffee. The unique format allows shoppers to enjoy specialty coffee drinks like lattes and mochas alongside the brand’s signature sweets, creating a destination that is equal parts café and confectionery. Behind the scenes, production runs constantly. “Summer, fall and winter, I order about 1,200 apples a week,” said Jacob. Customer favorites include the English Toffee Apple, Rocky Road Apple and the classic caramel apple.

Caramel apples may be the star of the show, but they are far from the only treat available. The café also offers hand-dipped strawberries made on-site, fudge, truffles, ice cream and other favorites. Visitors may even spot Truffles the Bear, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory mascot, who adds to the store’s friendly atmosphere. Popular staples include the Pecan Bears™ and Peanut Butter Buckets, oversized confections made at the company’s Durango factory.

 

Keeping up with a growing business was only part of the story. The pandemic brought a significant increase in sales, and that momentum has continued ever since. “It exploded. I think people knew it was a national brand, but that we were locally owned, live here, shop here, and work here,” said Bri. As the business continued to grow, the couple was also raising a family. Their first son, Jackson, arrived in February 2020.

Over the years, their family grew to include four children: Jackson, Bode, and twins Harper and Murphy. “We learned to balance parenthood with business ownership as we cooked, decorated and delivered caramel apples each weekend during the shutdown,” recalled Jacob.

Giving back is a priority for the Blaylocks. This past July, they hosted their Sweets for Service initiative, delivering fresh fudge and caramel apples to local fire and police departments. Throughout the year, they support events such as the Shopping Extravaganza in September, the Boo Bash in October and they offer fundraising programs that allow organizations to sell caramel apples and retain 50 percent of the proceeds.

The Blaylocks have built more than a successful business. They have created a gathering place that reflects their devotion to family, community and the town they dreamed of calling home.

With the holidays fast approaching, the café also offers custom corporate gifting and gift boxes.

The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Café is located at 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Suite 820, Castle Rock. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit rmcf.com or call (303) 955-8160.

By Liane Davis