CBRE has arranged a lease for LaRue Fine Chocolate at the 60,000 sq.-ft. mixed-use development Poe West in The West Village of Greenville, SC. The Pickens, S.C.-based chocolatier is set to open its first brick-and-mortar shop in late fall of 2019, offering hand-crafted artisan chocolates with fresh, local, quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations.

LaRue’s owner, Elizabeth Logan McDaniel, was raised in Easley. She is a graduate of the Ecole Chocolat and holds a Professional Chocolatier certificate with honors. She has also achieved the rank of Maitre Chocolatier from the same school. Additionally, she is a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators.

CBRE’s Blaine Hart and Tommy Molin are spearheading leasing efforts at Poe West and represented the landlord and developer, The Furman Co., in the lease transaction. LaRue was represented by John Parker of Broadstreet Partners.

“My years in the wine industry gave me an understanding of flavor profiles and the importance of achieving balance on the palette,” said Ms. McDaniel, owner of LaRue. “I’m excited to share my passion for chocolates with the Greenville community and am looking forward to hosting ‘roll your own’ chocolate making events, chocolate classes and truffle and beverage pairing events at the Poe West shop.”

The café will be open for guests to grab a “chef’s choice” box of chocolates to go, create their own collection or sit and linger a while over a glass of something new and interesting, a decadent dessert or cheese plate.  There will be a wine, bubbles, beer and cocktail list offering in addition to coffee and tea drinks, hot chocolates with house made marshmallows and creative non-alcoholic cocktails. Opening hours will be Wednesdays and Thursdays 1–9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 1–10 p.m.

“The entrepreneurial theme of Poe West is continuing on with LaRue. Elizabeth and her concepts embody what the project is planning to cultivate, and her products speak for themselves. We are thrilled she will be a part of the community and know she will compliment all of the surrounding users and do great things,” says the leasing team at CBRE.

“Poe West is shaping up to be what could be an extraordinary culinary and entertainment experience. Uber and Lyft will soon know it by heart!,” said Steve Navarro, CEO at The Furman Co.

The Poe West development is breaking ground in March of 2019 and is anchored by Greenville Technical College Center for Culinary and Hospitality Innovation (CHI) and Carolina Bauernhaus, as announced earlier this year. Poe West is designed to be a community of business and creative, energetic thinking. It is planting the seeds of community while growing opportunities from the roots of thousands of stories and a rich history.