Japanese Chocolatier Planning Expansion Into Former Health Haven On Divis

Japanese Chocolatier Planning Expansion Into Former Health Haven On Divis

Photo:  Stephen Jackson/Hoodline

Stephen Jackson
Published on August 16, 2016

A new artisanal chocolate outlet looks to be headed to Divisadero. Green Bean To Bar, a Japanese chocolatier with locations in Fukuoka and Tokyo, is planning a U.S. expansion into 621 Divisadero St., the space formerly occupied by Health Haven and Pet Haven, which closed this past spring after two decades of business. 

We've so far been unable to reach the company for details, but local publication Fukuoka Now has details on the Tokyo location, where patrons can watch organic cocoa beans being roasted, crushed, and melted into chocolate bars, buy the finished product, or order a chocolate drink at an adjoining cafe.

Photo: Green Bean to Bar/Facebook

According to Planning Department documents submitted by architecture firm Boor Bridges,  the Japanese company's U.S. expansion won't go by the "Green Bean To Bar" name because "the client has determined that this name does not translate well into the US market and plans to use a different name for the San Francisco location." Similarly, "While there is overlap in the products being provided, the décor and operation will be significantly different than the existing locations in Japan." So, it remains to be seen what the new iteration of the business will look like exactly.

According to Fukuoka Now, Green Bean To Bar locations in Japan feature chocolate barsthat retail around $14, bon-bons (~$3.50), eclairs (~$5), hot chocolate (~$5) and other chocolatey products all made from organic cocoa beans, along with coffee, tea and other beverages. 

Photo: Green Bean to Bar/Facebook

We reached out to Ray Salman, brother-in-law to former Health Haven owner Ted Nasser (who still owns the property). "My brother thinks it will be good for the neighborhood, something new, something fresh," he told us. "They already have many successful locations in Japan."

How do you feel about an artisanal chocolatier opening up on the block? Let us know in the comments.