By RAUL GARCIA JR

The Mercedes Enterprise

Since 2006, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has become known for its amazing selection of gourmet chocolates, caramel apples and fudge – many made right in the store in one of its famous candy making demonstrations.  The Mercedes store is part of the largest chocolate store chain in the nation.

Patricia Barrera remembers customers tugging on her business door for a chance to buy the chocolaty treats and candy apples she had on display the during the grand opening of the store. 

The mall had just opened and the walking ways were packed and the line to get into her store stretched more than 10 stores down the corridor. 

Hundreds off customers lined up at the first Rocky Mountain  Chocolate Factory in the Rio Grande Valley at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets. 

Barrera and her sister Veronica Barrera decided to open up the chocolate shop and let go of their full times jobs to move back to the Valley. Veronica was in Colorado, and Patricia was living in Dallas working full time. 

“So we started looking at companies, you know something different to bring to the Valley that wasn’t already here and we settled on the Rocky Mountain,” Barrera said.  “We opened the store and we had one the largest grand openings in the country in the company’s history,” Barrera said. “Yeah we are here and at that time there were 300 and some stores you know, and the grand opening was on a Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday.”

 “Our customers were ready for something different you know, and that that’s the way it is if you want to break into the market,” Barrera said. “We came up with something different, something that’s not down here.”

The Rocky Mountain Chocolate shop carries 40 varieties of candy apples some its top sellers are the Pecan Bear, and a course the Rocky Road.