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Heading down the Southern California coast to open a location in San Diego’s Pacific Beach is Chocolate Bash, a super popular dessert shop from Newport Beach that specializes in crêpes, waffles and chocolate covered fruit. 
After emigrating to the United States from war-torn Syria, Rasha Albasha knew she wanted to do something different for a career. The former educational administrator opened her first Chocolate Bash in 2015 in Newport Beach and now has 3 additional stores in Southern California with more in the works. Chocolate Bash offers a menu of customizable crepes, waffles, pancakes, and fruit, as well as coffee drinks, tea and shakes. There are also signature items like the Bash Roll, a crepe rolled with choice of fruit and topped with Belgium chocolate; and the Bash Burger – 4 pieces of pancakes topped with choice of toppings and chocolate.

“We use three different types of Belgium chocolate, all imported from Europe, not just the normal chocolate syrup you’ll get somewhere else,” explained Chocolate Bash founder Rasha Albasha.
Chocolate Bash’s first San Diego location will install in part of the space last occupied by Firestone Auto on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, which will also house a branch of Texas-based fried chicken chain Wingstop. A second area outpost is also in the works to insall in the space last occupied by a Subway in Civic Center Plaza mall in Escondido. Based on the success of the first area branches, more San Diego locations may be on the way.  

Chocolate Bash is expected to open as early as late summer at 1245 Garnet Avenue, Suite 2, in San Diego’s Pacific Beach. For more information, visit chocolatebash.com.

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More Sweet Treats Heading to San Diego – Escondido

Fresh on the heels of their grand opening celebration in Pacific Beach, Chocolate Bash are looking North to set up their second San Diego location. According to a recent food permit filing, the chocolatiers will replace a Subway location in Civic Center Plaza shopping mall in Escondido. 

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Founded in 2016 by Rasha Albasha, the dessert company has achieved quick success and opened up franchising opportunities. Chocolate Bash has grown from their original location in Newport Beach, to opening another six locations across LA, Orange County, and Sacramento.

According to What Now Phoenix, the brand is now planning multiple franchised locations in Arizona.

What foods can be covered in chocolate? The possibilities are endless at Chocolate Bash: crepes, waffles, fruit, churros, and more. Bash specials include the Bash Burger, a pancake and fruit sandwich covered in chocolate, and a Bash Roll which is a fruit-filled crepe topped with rich Belgian chocolate. Choose from their list of treats or build your own ice cream or pastry.

An opening timeline for Escondido has not been announced. Stay updated about new locations by following Chocolate Bash on Instagram. 

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The newest signing is the 10th unit for Chocolate Bash with more in the pipeline for the upcoming year.

Phoenix, AZ  (RestaurantNews.com)  Arizona is seeing its second Chocolate Bash signing this fall. The newest location for the QSR chocolatier is owned by franchisee Rene Da Costa, who signed for a single store.

Da Costa is scheduled for two additional Chocolate Bash locations over the next two years, bringing his overall total units to three in the first 24 months. The momentum doesn’t stop there for Da Costa or Chocolate Bash. “In the following three years after this first initial two, Mr. Da Costa is planning to open five more store locations with the intention to cover the brand’s expansion for the entire state of Arizona,” stated Devin Conner, Director of Franchise Sales. “His goal is to be a regional developer, which is great news for Chocolate Bash.”

Da Costa represents a notable shift in the brand’s growth pattern as one of the first to pursue regional development. “Mr. Da Costa comes with significant experience in the franchise space,” stated Conner. “He served as an operations director for several international brands including Papa John’s, Yum! Brands, and will be a large contributor to Chocolate Bash’s growth over the next few years.”

This deal comes on the heels of another recent signing for Chocolate Bash, which was also in Arizona. The new location announced in September is owned by Manny Torres and covers Phoenix. Chocolate Bash, originally founded in Newport Beach, California, has since spread to Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Tustin, and Claremont. The newest location to launch for the brand can be found in San Diego with another opening coming soon for Sacramento.

Chocolate Bash is continuing to welcome new franchise partners into its network. All franchise partners of the dessert franchise can expect a proven QSR model, a comprehensive training program, and marketing resources and guidance.

About Chocolate Bash

Chocolate Bash is the best destination for sweet crêpes and waffles with all the genuine flavors found overseas! They have a variety of menu options, catering services, and online ordering.

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Momentum for Chocolate Bash has steadily picked up with 9 total locations.

Phoenix, AZ  (RestaurantNews.com)  Chocolate Bash, a California-based QSR gourmet chocolatier and sweets shop, has just announced its newest franchise location for the states.

Manny Torres is the new franchise partner for the brand, taking on the Phoenix, Arizona territory. This is the first Chocolate Bash for the state. Chocolate Bash currently has 9 operational locations. The brand first got its start in Newport Beach California, since spreading to Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Tustin, and Claremont. Upcoming locations will be opening soon in San Diego and Sacramento.

The company launched in 2015 and quickly gained popularity locally. The brand is deliciously unique, pioneering new dessert combinations and instagrammable sensations. The menu consists of crepes, cream puffs, fruit dip plates, pancakes, and more. Bash Treats, the online gift shop, is an extension of Chocolate Bash, furthering the brand’s national reach and recognition.

The dessert franchise QSR model fits well into most markets. Franchise partners have access to detailed training programs, ongoing operational support, focused marketing guidance, and other support mechanisms with their franchise agreement. To learn more about Chocolate Bash franchise ownership, visit their website at www.chocolatebash.com.

About Chocolate Bash

Chocolate Bash is the best destination for sweet crêpes and waffles with all the genuine flavors found overseas! They have a variety of menu options, catering services, and online ordering. For more information on Chocolate Bash, visit their website at www.chocolatebash.com..

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he brand has been rapidly expanding their franchise footprint throughout 2021

Long Beach, CA  (RestaurantNews.com)  Deliciously unique Chocolate Bash, a California-based dessert destination, has just announced a new location coming to California.

Long Beach will be the latest spot to gain the buzzworthy shop. Hosam Albokaei is the newest franchise owner to join the network. “We’re excited for Hosam to be joining us as we expand the Chocolate Bash name throughout the West Coast,” stated Founder Rasha Albasha. “Our franchise sales are steady, and I am confident that 2022 will prove just as fruitful for us as 2021, if not better.”

The company currently has 8 locations, including the newest one in Long Beach. The Irvine Spectrum Center gained its own Chocolate Bash this year, officially opening its doors in September, just on the heels of their first Northern California unit in Elk Grove. March of 2022 is the expected opening month of a new store in San Diego.

As for continued expansion, Albasha and her team aim to continue to hit California and the surrounding states. “Our franchise model is extremely simple to operate. By utilizing a relevant, flexible QSR model, we’ve maintained our business well throughout 2020, even experiencing expansion during 2021,” points out Albasha. “Our menu is unique and versatile, really boosting the potential for our franchise owners.”

Franchise owners gain a strong support team when they sign with Chocolate Bash, including marketing and advertising guidelines and materials, recipes and preparation procedures, site selection parameters, and continued field support. Applications are now being accepted for franchisees to join the franchise family.

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Chocolate. An age old dessert that can never go wrong (unless you’re lactose intolerant). One of the Irvine Spectrum’s newest restaurants, Chocolate Bash, perfects the mouthwatering art of the milk-based delicacy. 

With the plethora of confections available, there’s no doubt the newest edition of the franchise will appeal to all kinds of tastes. Their menu boasts an interesting approach to desert restaurants, allowing the customer to build their own crepes, waffles, pancakes and more. 

“Anybody can buy desserts in restaurants with one, two, three or five options, but at Chocolate Bash, the concept is that you can create whatever you want,” owner Amer Dukhan said . “Each customer has their own vision, and they can do anything they like. You can build it as much as you want.” 

I personally built a simple crepe, topped with Belgium Chocolate and strawberries for $12. The moment the first bite melted at the tip of my tongue, I knew there was something special about the chocolate. 

“We import a blend of three types of chocolate from Belgium to make a perfectly sweet, but not too sweet, chocolate sauce,” Dukhan said. “The Belgium Chocolate is one of our most important items because we created it ourselves.”

Other than the Belgium Chocolate, I also had a $24 sampler plate with cookie butter and Belgium Chocolate as the toppings that confirmed my initial thoughts about the quality of the food. 

The texture of the desserts is one of the strongest aspects of Chocolate Bash. You first get the impression of a warm, crispy crepe or waffle which immediately softens, allowing the toppings to take the wheel. The texture of the sweets ensure that you taste every part of the magnificent concoction of sauces you create based on your preferences.

The exceptional quality of Chocolate Bash is a result of Dukhan’s passion for desserts, which prompted him to start his branch at the Irvine Spectrum Center on Oct. 10 to expand his European and Middle Eastern dessert vision. 

“We started the first location in Newport Beach in 2015, and then the second in LA, third in Tustin, and we started franchising after that,” Dukhan said. “Hopefully we can spread to Europe as well.”

Dukhan started Chocolate Bash as a small, humble store in Newport Beach. As a result, he recognizes the importance of making personal connections with his customers and more importantly, making connections with his Chocolate Bash team. 

“We feel home as a family. Even the employees don’t just feel like workers; they feel part of the business itself, so we can grow as a whole together because of their effort and us working together,” Dukhan said. “When you see some things grow in front of you, it’s a different feeling.”

You can help Chocolate Bash grow by visiting his shop and trying your hand at some creamy-chocolate goodness, at 10% off for first-time customers. 

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The chocolatier is seeing momentum pick up as more deals pour in.

Elk Grove, CA  (RestaurantNews.com)  California-based Chocolate Bash has just landed its newest franchise location in Elk Grove, California.

Feda Faizi signed for the Elk Grove store in late August, making it the very first Chocolate Bash unit to spread to Northern California. “Our growth has been steady since we first launched the franchise opportunity in 2019,” stated Founder Rasha Albasha. “We love seeing the demand for our delicious desserts and have proven that our model can flex to the times we’re living in.”

The gourmet chocolatier boasts local fame in its hometown of Newport Beach, where it was founded in 2016. The Newport Beach location was sold as a franchise in May. Chocolate Bash currently has four operational locations, including the one in Newport Beach, which can be found in Los Angeles, Tustin, and Claremont. Two additional franchise locations are in San Diego and Glendale.

“Making our way to NorCal is a huge victory. Steadily moving up through the state allows us to build brand awareness and recognition at a healthy pace,” stated Albasha. “Our momentum is picking up in 2021 and I’m confident that more deals are to come before the year is over.”

Chocolate Bash delivers an ever-attractive QSR model to its franchise partners, proving both flexible, affordable, and relevant in today’s market. The brand serves a variety of sweet desserts and drinks, all underscored by authentic recipes from overseas. “Chocolate Bash is a cravable destination,” stated Albasha. “We see little direct competition with the level of quality we are serving and the variety here.”

Chocolate Bash is seeking new franchise partners to join their network. Every franchise comes with ongoing support, marketing guidance, an exclusive territory, and training.

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About Chocolate Bash

Chocolate Bash is the best destination for sweet crêpes and waffles with all the genuine flavors found overseas! They have a variety of menu options, catering services, and online ordering. For more information on Chocolate Bash, visit their website at https://chocolatebash.com. More information on how to become a franchisee can be found 

OC’s Fastest Growing Chocolatier Expands To New Third Location

After emigrating to the U.S. from war-torn Syria, Rasha Albasha knew she wanted to do something different for a career. Little did this educational administrator know it would come in the form of owning of Chocolate Bash, one of Orange County’s fastest-growing chains of gourmet crepe and waffle shops.

Last month Chocolate Bash opened a new location in Tustin. It’s third since launching in 2015. Rasha says she had no prior experience in the food industry or as an entrepreneur. But she saw a lacking in the offerings of chocolate confections in her newly adopted homeland. The difference was in the variety and quality of ingredients Rasha used to top her light and delicious treats. “We use three different types of Belgium chocolate, all imported from Europe, not just the normal chocolate syrup you’ll get somewhere else,” Rasha said.

In addition to rare chocolates, Chocolate Bash also offers toppings including cookie butter, apple cinnamon, and an Italian pistachio spread that is similar to Nutella but richer and creamier. “Within two months of opening our first location in Newport Beach we had people lined up out the door all the way to the street – all without spending a penny on advertising,” Rasha said.

In 2017 Rasha knew it was time to expand but was worried she lacked the capital to do so. That’s when she reached out to the SBDC and was put in touch with SBDC business consultant Manal Richa. “We worked with Rasha on compiling her finances and shopping around for lenders to align her with the right fit to meet her needs for a loan to expand to her second location in Los Angeles and ultimately the third this year in Tustin,” Manal said.

In addition to helping line up financing, Manal and the SBDC provided invaluable advice that saved Rasha not only money but also valuable time. “The SBDC helped me with forecasting, monitoring, growth, new ideas for improvement, and optimization. All these things I just would have never been able to do by myself,” Rasha said.

Manal says that doing your research and market projections before launching a new business are important keys to success. “Numbers do not lie and it is important for business owners to have a clear understanding of what they’re getting themselves into,” Manal said. Luckily, the SBDC is there free of charge for any businesses or would-be entrepreneurs looking to launch or expand. “Our team of almost 100 consultants, within the OCIE SBDC network, are either business owners themselves or experts in their specific area. We help business owners not only avoid mistakes but also strategically and financially plan for their expansion,” Manal said.

On behalf of the Orange County (SBDC) and our partners, we invite you to join us in celebrating the grand opening for one of the newest chocolate confections in Tustin, Ca. The grand opening will be held at 11:00 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special remarks from elected officials!

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