My mom has been getting chocolate here since I was little. The shop closed, but I had heard through a friend that Jim reopened. We had family Christmas, played white elephant where we had to bring our favorite chocolate. She was SHOCKED to see the familiar wrappings and chocolate shapes. Made Christmas for her that year. We will keep going back as long as he's in business. read more

Northern Chocolate Company - Mint melts ways are a must. - Candy Stores Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The chocolate is truly amazing !!! All different chocolate mold forms for a fun touch. read more

Still the best chocolate in the world but now only available through appointment. Call the number and ask for Jim and when you're able to drop by. You can usually give you timeframe. Totally awesome! read more

Northern Chocolate Company - the front of the building - Candy Stores Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jim's chocolates are the real deal. I've been everywhere to try all sorts of chocolate, from homey mom-and-pop shops to high-end boutiques where they ship chocolate in from all over the world, and the quality of these is inimitable. They're not ultra-luxurious or anything, but with each bite you can tell how much hard work and passion went into these. Jim's just a dude who's crazy about chocolate and works his ass off on every piece -- who can really blame him for wanting to run his own store by his rules? Everyone I know who's tried the mint meltaways fell in love with the darn things. I didn't even like chocolate and mint together, until I had a bite! Now, every time my boyfriend in Milwaukee comes home to DC, his family sends a list of chocolates he needs to bring home. read more

Northern Chocolate Company - the entrance to the building - Candy Stores Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best chocolate in Milwaukee. Jim is an interesting person and very strict about keeping his shop clean. You may have to take your shoes off if it is snowing outside. Call to make an appointment as he doesn't have regular hours. So glad he came out of retiremen. read more

In a way it's like going back in time. Handmade delicacies sold locally for a select clientele in Victorian era decor. This is by far the best chocolate I have ever had. Currently they are open two days a week for four hours a day. Legend says you may not be let in, even if you come during those periods. That same legend states you may be asked to leave if you displease the artist. It is more than worth the effort, for an experience you won't have anywhere else and a quality that no longer commercially exists. If you are a chocolate lover you must go. read more

Northern Chocolate Company - a variety of chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I've been buying Chocolate with cash from Jim the owner operator of this weird place since moving to town in 09. Jim's a little rough around the edges. He only takes cash. He pontificates about local politics, grateful dead concerts, and the general decay of the American splendor that surrounds him. I've kind of forgotten that chocolate is available other places so I spend about 250 dollars here annually. Its next level, small batch, insert hipster food blurb. Its good. The retail area inside is adorned with a kitschy otter motif and vintage metal chocolate molds. The production area dwarfs the store and is utilitarian and spartan. There's no internet, no blinking lights, a wooden drawer holds the cash Jim makes change with. Don't take any photos inside... Jim will kick you to the curb. read more

I have purchased chocolate from Jim Fetzer (AKA "The Chocolate Nazi") on many occasions. While he's a curmudgeon, his chocolates are delicious and unique. Sadly, between being fed up with the world and finding God, Jim is closing Northern Chocolate Company (per today's Journal Sentinel). It's the end of an era in Milwaukee. read more

This place is out of the way, quirky and great local chocolate. You must, must, must. have a sense of humor if you are going here. Roll with Jim the owner and you'll do just fine. Bring cash or check. Ring the door bell. Be polite. Don't touch unless you are buying ;) read more

Three Haiku's for Northern Chocolate Company Shoes off, I enter It is quiet, like a shrine And Jim sings softly What happened to Jim So long ago in his youth That made him this way? But I forget that When I take my first bite of His mint meltaways read more

I forgot about the cash only rule and whipped out my credit card - oops! I was afraid I would get booted out, but thank God, I didn't. I had enough cash for several boxes of chocolate for Christmas gifts and a big box of the mints which I shared at work. We all are blown away by how good this chocolate is! I will definitely be back and hope I remember to bring lots of cash! read more

Like a good neighbor... There's nothing like having a chocolate shop next door! And there's nothing like having a neighbor like Jim. Let's talk about the chocolate. It's delicious. The mint meltaways are a staple in my house. The white chocolate with blueberries are also a frequent purchase. I have also had the big @ss chocolate bars. Basically, anything you buy will be some of the best chocolate you have ever had. Now let's talk about Jim. He loves making chocolate and takes an immense amount of pride in it. I see some pretty negative writings about him here, and let me say that he is eccentric, but a good person. He LOVES animals and treats my dog like gold. He is the kind of neighbor who keeps his eye on the surroundings, and calls if something is out of the ordinary. That is a good trait to have in a neighbor in my neighborhood. He likes to talk, and is a bit unfiltered, so expect some off the wall things to happen when you visit, but have fun with it! You'll leave with good chocolate and some healthy laughter. Two basic necessities in life. read more

Jim has the best mints and personality in town. There are tons of options, but if you try the mints, you really won't buy anything else. Everything is made in the back in this one man operation. The building has been restored and kept very original looking. Come for the chocolate and stay for the conversation. It is always worth ringing the bell to see if the store is open when you are in the neighborhood. read more

Received a box of mixed chocolates as a gift. Absolutely fantastic. I had to control myself to one per day. Great quality. Loved the coconut and mint as favorites. read more

Worst customer service I've ever experienced. If you doubt it all you need to do is google Jim and his infamous people skills. I don't care how well you make chocolate you need to work on your manners sir. read more

The store is still open! Jim has retired but is still making chocolates on a limited basis Call for hours. He will continue to make the mint meltaways. On my visit there were also peanut butter meltaways, mint butter cookies, and many adorable Christmas chocolate figurines as delicious as ever. There are no other mint meltaways anywhere close to how delicious these are. I'm also a huge fan of the peanut butter meltaways. Yum. Thank you, Jim!!! What a fabulous Christmas gift. read more

5 stars for mint meltaways. You can taste the love. I hope that if this guy ever retires, he lets his recipes live on. Call ahead for hours. Don't wear fur. Don't talk on your cell phone. Don't hoard any particular item. Don't handle the delicate molded chocolates unnecessarily. Keep an eye on your kids. (Actually, leave your kids at home. This is a candy store for grown-ups.) Even with all that, still worth a visit. read more

The owner is a bit crazy and that's pretty clear from older online posts. I'll only add to what another reviewer said about conduct in the shop. Expect to take your shoes off inside. I believe this is a cash only store and the owner may rudely look into your wallet, asking if you have cash. He might sing. He might say some awkward things, but you'll have a story and some damn good chocolate when you leave. I recommend the mint meltaways highly. Edit: I also walked away with a picture frame that I neither asked for, nor wanted. I didn't dare say no. read more

This chocolate is beautiful, delicious, and a deal. Jim is quite a character and a delight. Just take your shoes off when asked and follow all of the rules. read more

Good chocolate. If you like sweets, particularly chocolate, give this place a try. The place has character. Two key things to know before you go: (1) the store is cash only and (2) no phones in the store. There is an 24 hr ATM a block or so south on MLK if you forget my first tip. Break my latter tip regarding phones and you or your phone might be exiting the store quickly. read more

The chocolate is simply lovely and delicious. I was surprised how reasonably priced it was considering the quality and how simply pretty it all is. The molded chocolate itself is art. My favorite thus far are the mint chocolate cookies I bought today which I have hidden away from the family The owner has a reputation for being rude based on on-line reviews but I found him to be funny and eccentric, refreshing even. read more

I think Jim is a bit loony, maybe more than a bit but I absolutely love the way he runs his business. It's his way or get the F out. The rules are simple and I have no issues following them. He gives me the business every time I walk through the door and I leave with a smile every time. Some of the people that complain about him either a) deserve to get yelled at or b) need to lighten up. Now, the chocolate - take your pick it's all excellent. If forced to choose I like the dark chocolate covered walnuts, the dark chocolate covered cookies or, of course, the mint meltaways. Don't forget to brush your teeth and floss! read more

Went for the first time last Saturday. Called first and he said he'd be open until 4pm, so the hours listed here are reasonably accurate. Got a box of mint meltaways and a "Homer Bliss's Big Adventure" sampler box. About 2lbs of chocolate treats for around $40. All of it was great, although a couple of the sampler items had nuts in them which I'm not a huge fan of, but not his fault. Was a little nervous about meeting Jim for the first time, but he was very friendly and talkative. There were two things I didnt expect at all after reading the other reviews. First, it was a "shoes on" day. I was looking around for where to put my shoes, and he said to leave them on. A bit later he was telling me about his friend who bought a smartphone and couldn't figure it out, and then about the new music he was finding. He tried to get his friend to pull up music videos, but he couldnt figure it out. So he's recommending music to me, and says "Hey you have a phone right? Pull up this song". Well of course I had it shut off, and my crummy phone takes a while to start up. He ended up writing his song recommendations on my bag for me. He recommended: February Seventh by the Avett Brothers, Goldmine by I Draw Slow, Let Her Go by Passenger, The White Buffalo, and the Lumineers. He also mentioned that he hoped to retire 2 years ago. So get in while you can! Cant wait to go back and get more chocolate! read more

YUM! The owner didn't do anything too weird in the short time we were in there. All he did was when we checked out, ask if we are brushing and flossing regularly. I guess it's "no chocolate for you" if you don't take care of your teeth! We got the "Big Adventure" box, which has two "logs" of chocolate, pecans and caramel which were phenomenal. It also has mint meltaways (YUM), dark chocolate toasted coconut patties (WOW), and cherry clusters. ALL were fantastical! read more

Tried the dark chocolate; nothing short of amazing! Mint meltaways are next up.

"A tradition unlike any other"...a phrase used by Jim Nantz about the Masters golf tournament but one that captures the essence of our visits to the Northern Chocolate Company as well as any. I was introduced to this company back in the late 80's or early 90's and have stopped in anytime I'm back in the area. Usually it's when my family and I are visiting friends who live up in the North Woods five hours away. We intentionally fly into Milwaukee to see Jim and buy some mint meltaways... both are out of this world. I got such a kick out of reading the posts on this site I had to add my 'amen.' If you have a problem following rules, beware. But to me, it's an adventure... what will I learn (the reason I get more mosquito bites than the rest of my family is because I have B-type blood), what will I get asked (do you brush and floss regularly?), and what will I be surprised by (are you a Jesus person?). As others have alluded to, here are a few tips. Calling first to see if he'll be open is helpful. He doesn't keep 'regular' hours. Upon arrival, read the signs on the door and heed them. Ring the bell once and wait for him to unlock the door. He'll size you up quickly and then will ask you in. Be ready to step into the shop when he does so. The inventory is right there. Pick out what you want but try not to handle things too much (the chocolate melts and some of the designs can get smeared). Be prepared to chat awhile and to be asked questions. He can be a little brusque but he's a guy who cares...and has a good memory. Bring cash and then enjoy! And one other tip... I like the mint meltaways room temperature but for a change of pace will throw them in the refrigerator and eat them cold. So refreshing!! read more

Remarkable chocolate handcrafted by a genuinely authentic, refreshing, and enjoyable human. Jim is special. Northern Chocolate reflects this. read more

Well, you need to ask yourself what you will go through to get locally made delicious chocolate. If that means getting verbally accosted by the guy that runs Northern Chocolate, then this is your place. For starters, I work near here and every time I go in, the guy gives me the 20 questions on who I am and where I work and where I live. It is somewhat annoying. Secondly, I apparently "rang the doorbell wrong" and boy did I hear about it. I rang the doorbell, yes, you have to ring a doorbell to enter, and I stepped aside apparently far enough so he couldn't see me. I waited and finally he came to the door and proceeded to YELL, not kidding, he was SCREAMING, at me about how I scared him when I stepped aside like that and I should know better than to do that. This went on for 5 minutes. No joke. I almost walked out because quite frankly, I was not in the mood to deal with his bat shiz crazed a$$. I told him "I GOT IT!!!" and he can go away and stop yelling at me. Jesus.H.Christ, I am there to patronize his store after all. I have been to his store numerous times but have never endured this type of behavior/abuse. So, I get my $20 worth of Chocolate (my brother wanted REAL chocolate this year and this is the only place locally that I love) and he says "Sorry, I am REALLY hung over this morning. I drank a whole bottle of whiskey last night. I mean, I don't even drink. I am a coffee and cig type of person" Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. I'm like, "I don't care. Just tryin' to buy my stuff and get outta here" I don't forgive and forget very easy. He proceeds to tell me this long story about how drunk he got and asks me if I have ever been so drunk I forgot what happened the night before. I responded, "Yeah, maybe when I was a teenager." So, thennnnnnnnn he tells me what he wants to have happen to the two teenagers who stole this owl that was held in a sanctuary recently. He goes into detail about how he wants them tied up to a tree naked instead of going to jail. Anyway, it was sick and I didn't really care to hear about it. Listen, I love animals too but ....he is a *tiny* bit extreme. Whatever you do, do not wear fur into his store (not that you should be wearing fur anyways, for real). Also, bring cash annnnnnnnnnd be prepared to get screamed at. Also, no kids allowed and this is for a good reason. The store is teeny tiny and kids would not be good in this store, esp with that dude. My brother really liked the chocolate I bought him and that's all that really matters :) read more

I first met Jim, and experienced his hand crafted chocolate back in the early 90s. I was a young rookie Milwaukee Police Officer assigned to District 5 right out of the Police Academy. This was back when the area now known as Brewer's Hill was an "Up and Coming" area, with much "up" room still needed. I was responding to his complaint regarding vandalism, not uncommon at that time. There were very few businesses in the area at that time. After taking his complaint, he provided me with a tour of his beautifully restored building, which serves as both his home and business. Probably the most fascinating was his collection of antique chocolate molds, from all over the world. Then, he gave me a sample of his chocolate and I was hooked. Now living in Florida, and having retired from the Police Department, one thing I miss about the Milwaukee is the wonderful chocolate concoctions made by Jim. Unfortunately, he runs his business his way and, since I do not get back to the Milwaukee area, I have that "chocolate hole" that just cannot be filled any where else. If you can still get his chocolate, even by appointment only, you will not be disappointed, and it will make this old retired cop jealous! read more

So lets start out with the stats - 19 out of 23 reviews are a 5, where have you seen that lately? Also, let me confirm that Jim uses only the best possible ingredients - I have been in on over 30 years of chocolate production at Northern Chocolate and the mediocre doesn't not pass inspection! Yes, he has a personality that is "unique" but most folks can roll with it and leave with a chuckle. So get in line - because as the saying goes, nothing good lasts forever! read more

I purchase many treats from Northern Chocolate to give to my Real Estate clients at Christmas time, and Jim's chocolate never disappoints (How's that for a plug?! Hire me as your Real Estate agent and get free Northern Chocolate at the end of the year!). I worked with Jim at Ambrosia Chocolate during the early 90's, and our chocolate knowledge is a little above average for the common consumer. He collected many different types of chocolate molds over the years, and his Santa Claus molds are probably turn of the century in age. They are very unique... this year, I purchased about 30 chocolate frogs to give to clients. How is the quality of the chocolate? Excellent. His milk chocolate is smooth and very creamy. Even better is his dark chocolate. Never harsh in flavor at all. A smooth after-taste and a fine robust flavor that doesn't burn your throat. True chocolate connoisseur will grade and analyze dark chocolates as the best test of quality. You can't go wrong. Hershey bars will taste like potted soil when put side to side with Northern Chocolate. Treat yourself and your friends and families this year with the best chocolate in town. If it's good enough for my Real Estate clients, it's good enough for the ones that you love! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! The mint meltaways are the best, but not quite as good as the assortment box including those yummy mint meltaways, caramels, cherry clusters, and much more. The store can be hard to miss on MLK Drive just south of North but is worth the trip. It's a great local chocolate shop that I frequent for all holidays, birthdays and parties. The owner is the best, too. Huge animal lover with TONS of interesting things to talk about while you're loading up on tasty treats! Once you go to this place you'll be a fan who goes back weekly. TRY IT!!! read more

Yes it was nerve wracking the first time visiting Jim. I read about his store claiming him to be the "chocolate nazi' of milwaukee. But its part of the legend and joy of finding this gem of a store. Now I stop 2-3 times a year. Shoes on? Shoes off? No phones, No kids, No hoodies...Who kNows. The bottom line is he makes fantastic chocolate. Wife loves the mint meltaways. Personally I am addicted to the chocolate covered Freeze Dried Bananas. To describe is difficult but.. first its melting chocolate then a hint of banana. If you bite into it the crunchy texture behind the smooth chocolate is perfect then the banana melts and becomes smooth. Just try them. read more

I always enjoy my visits to Northern Chocolate, and I find Jim a lot of fun to deal with, but then I follow his rules...RELIGIOUSLY. If I don't, I won't get my chocolate, and my Wife will be horribly mad at me for not bringing home her favorite Coconut Clusters in the world, not to mention the Mint meltaways. If Mama ain't happy, nobody's happy. read more

I didn't want to go here based on the Yelps but my Valentine insisted upon it and so we went. It's such a pretty store. Those antique molds are just lovely. And then Jim comes out and he kinda didn't bother me in a way because I think it'd be kinda cool if everyone blasted people with musical notes and then after a while I thought, okay I think I want to be done here but oh the chocolate. It's very clean tasting-if that makes sense-or is the word I want closer to pure? Not really fluent in chocolate but the Meltaway is fantabulous and the white with blueberries were really nice and the coconut with the bittersweet chocolate-wow. read more

All that has been said is true. I haven't seen mentioned though that if it is wet weather, expect to take off your shoes. Jim lays out a towel, with a chair if needed to change, and you will shop in stocking feet. He won't have water/salt tracked all over the floor. The store itself is architecturally beautiful. Be sure to look up a the pressed tin ceiling. Happy Holidays! read more

Jim Fetzer is actually pretty cool if you take the time to talk to him. He is also intelligent enough to have a good conversation. His shop visit might be awkward for you, if you are a PC pansy-ass. His chocolate is very good and he is a business independent of the corporate world. A must visit in MKE. You should be brushing and flossing anyway. read more

Jim is a nice guy. He has opinions but doesn't everybody? His chocolates are to die for. They're awesome! I've been going there now for five years and have never been disappointed. I've bought chocolates for the holiday and just because I like them. His mint meltaways are my favorites but I also love the plain light and dark chocolate bark, coated cashews, pecans, and fruit as well as the free chocolate smells from the kitchen. read more

Delicious and oh, so interesting! Everything you've read about the place and the owner is true. If you're looking for some really special chocolates and an unusual experience, this is the place. Knock on the door or ring the bell, then wait for him to answer. Make sure to stand where he can see you through the window. Enjoy his tunes and listen while he enthusiastically sings along. If you're lucky, he'll be in a talkative mood and you'll get an interesting story. But don't forget he's a busy guy -- a one-man show -- so keep that in mind. Jim's collection of Victorian Christmas ornaments are just lovely. The shop is small but the chocolates are plentiful. SO many wonderful things to choose from...peanut butter melts, mint meltaways, blueberries in white chocolate, chocolate covered cashews or walnuts with cherries, and on and on and on.... And then there are the molded chocolates -- absolutely beautiful!! read more