Kalona Chocolates sustained smoke damage when a fire affected their neighbor the Kalona Bakery on June 25th. Since then, owner Lyndon Hershberger said they’ve been working on their kitchen, and they recently resumed production and wholesale. They were able to get the kitchen restored because it’s more isolated from the rest of the building, with its own heating and cooling system.

While the retail part of the store is still not operational, they have been selling their products in the Kalona Coffee House, which is owned by Hershberger’s sister and her husband. As far as a timetable for when they will reopen their own doors, he said his personal goal is to have the retail store open by Kalona’s Fall Festival at the end of September. Kalona Chocolates will be joining other vendors at the Iowa State Fair.