Why Platter’s Chocolate Factory Always Makes Dave Fields’ Summer Bucket List

You've been hearing me talk about Platter's Chocolate Factory for a while. My wife and I love visiting the Cafe to unplug from the world, especially during the summer.

We will go there on a Saturday, get a drink or a coffee, and just hang out with our phones off. They have ice cream, frozen custard, milkshakes, sundaes, and all the fixings, so it's not uncommon to see families and friends coming in for a sugar fix and snapping a few photos. It's in the historic Wurlitzer Building in North Tonawanda, which used to house the famous organ and jukebox company but now lends tons of character to a long-time family-owned business like Platter's.

And yes, you can see how the chocolate is made! Their self-guided tour lets you peek through massive glass windows and watch the candy-making magic. You'll see them pouring melted chocolate into molds, mixing and cooking the sponge for the sponge candy, and coating the sponge with delicious chocolate, available in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or their famous orange chocolate.

Carl Platter started the company in his basement in 1938, and although they have certainly grown since then, you can see that Platter's still believes in making quality sweets the right way. They now employ more than 100 people in a spacious factory and support numerous community events. I always have to stop and look at what Buffalo-themed and novelty creations they have, like this chocolate pizza slice!

From start to finish, Platter's Chocolate Factory has a great vibe for spending quality time with family and friends. Plus, when my wife gets annoyed with me, she sends me off to take the tour. (Haha.)

Discover it for yourself this summer. Plan your visit to 908 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda, and don't forget — you can shop 24/7 at platterschocolates.com.