Photos courtesy of the Grandview Library Endowment Fund
Amelia Sturbois, Liza Devere and Izzy Evans participate in last year’s Chocolate Walk.
Any Grandview Heights resident with an insatiable sweet tooth is in luck.
From 6 to 8 p.m. May 28, the Grandview Library Endowment Fund will hold the second annual Grandview Chocolate Walk. For $25, ticket-holders can explore central Grandview, where business owners will give away homemade chocolate treats as part of an effort to contribute to the library’s funding and stimulate patronage for the local economy.
Last year, 187 Grandview citizens participated in the first Chocolate Walk. Organizers realized that admission tickets and 187 pairs of chocolate-covered hands made for a considerable mess, following two hours of strolling around the neighborhood.
This year, handheld tickets have been traded in for lanyards. The remainder of the event, however, will closely mimic last year.
“We had a winning formula last year,” says organizer Krista Sturbois.
“People were very enthused about the event. The atmosphere was very festive, and all the businesses really stepped up to make it special.”
Twenty-one businesses stepped up, to be exact, and the library expects the same number to participate this year.
“The event is meant to be more of a partnership with the businesses rather than only helping the Endowment Fund,” Sturbois says. One of the Endowment Fund’s major goals has always been to offer “an easy walk that highlights how pedestrian-friendly the community is.”
Participants may start and end their walks wherever they please, but the official walking path begins at the Grandview Heights Public Library on West First Avenue and extends down First to Grandview Avenue, where the route turns north to end on Grandview just past Third Avenue.
The area includes a number of businesses whose contributions in 2014 were truly delectable. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams presented single-scoop Bambino cones in any chocolate flavor; Stauf’s Coffee Roasters offered chocolate-infused coffee at its outdoor iced coffee station; and Grandview Theatre gave out popcorn with chocolate candy.
But businesses don’t have to be in the food industry to get involved. Village Squires Barber Shop joined in the festivities by baking chocolate pizzelles, while Peabody Papers made chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting, each topped with an edible seal of the company logo.
The Endowment Fund is looking forward to reprising the event after the impressive turnout and positive feedback from last year.
“For a two-hour block of time in the evening, the businesses are really galvanized to help the library while getting much higher traffic,” Sturbois says.
While Sturbois describes the Chocolate Walk as “kind of like grown-up trick or treating,” she is quick to mention that all ages are welcome, and the library greatly appreciates the support of anyone who wishes to spend a fun night helping a community cause.
Tickets for the Chocolate Walk will be available until either the library exhausts its 300 lanyards or May 25, when a final head count will be given to the businesses to allow them to adequately prepare. Those seeking to join in may pay with cash or check at the library, or they can purchase their admission over the phone using a credit card.
The library and its business partners hope to duplicate last year’s success, winning new clientele for Grandview’s businesses while backing the library’s endowment.
“The Chocolate Walk highlights the treasures in Grandview and our pedestrian-friendly community in a simple, fun marketing opportunity,” Sturbois says.
Zach Maiorana is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.