Nestled by the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets in downtown Victoria, you’ll find Roger’s Chocolates, a Canadian legacy steeped in history as rich as a bar of Rogers premium dark chocolate. Stepping into the shop feels like walking into the past, with polished wood cabinets, a stained glass awning, and the sweet scent of cocoa lingering in the air. But this story began more than a century ago, across a very different Victoria.
The tale of Roger’s Chocolates begins in 1885 when Charles “Candy” Rogers made his way west and opened a grocery business in Victoria with his new bride, Leah. While the grocery business proved to be hit and miss, Charles’s homemade chocolates (quietly crafted in the back of the store) quickly became the talk of the town, so Charles quickly pivoted, became a fulltime chocolatier, and renamed his business Roger’s Chocolates.
In 1903, Charles and Leah moved the shop across the street to the now iconic heritage storefront at 913 Government Street. Each day before opening, they'd spend hours making chocolates and then completely sell out in under an hour, a frantic pace they kept until Charles’ sudden death in 1927. After his untimely demise, Leah ran the shop alone; but sadly, she wasn’t as business-minded as her husband and the business began to fail. In order to appease creditors and avoid bankruptcy, she sold the shop a few years later.
Today, the Rogers Chocolate shop is a designated Canadian National Historic Site, looking exactly like it did in the Rogers’ time, complete with original mahogany shelves, brass fixtures and stained glass awning. But don’t be fooled by the shop’s vintage charm—Roger’s Chocolates have diligently kept up with the times.
While many of the traditionally crafted recipes (some dating back over 100 years) are still available, the company also offers many updated and unique flavours that will please any sweet tooth. Just as in Candy and Leah’s time, all chocolates are made with a high commitment to quality, using fair trade cocoa, natural ingredients, and no preservatives.
Roger’s Chocolates embodies something deeply Canadian: a respect for heritage, a love of craftsmanship, and a knack for transforming something simple into something extraordinary. Visiting the shop is more than a shopping trip; it’s a sensory experience for it’s historical sights, sounds and smells.
So, next time you visit Victoria, make time for a visit to Roger’s Chocolates; or better still, join a Hidden Victoria tour that features Rogers as one of our historical stops. Our Iconic and Obscure tour will introduce you to the original shop; or for a more sensory experience, our Victoria Bites & Sites tour also includes an individually wrapped Vanilla Cream for you to enjoy as you stroll down Government Street.
It’s a sweet and wonderful end to a tour that highlights the many sights, sounds and flavours of historical Victoria B.C. Use the bold links above to book your tours, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
See what is new and exciting at rogerschocolates.com