Christine Jefferies recently bought Ann Arbor's Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co. after working for the company previously in Sturgis.

Laura Blodgett | For AnnArbor.com

Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co., located at 2891 Jackson Ave. in Ann Arbor near Weber's Inn, has a new owner.

Former store manager Christine Jefferies, 25, recently bought the store after working for Great Lakes in her hometown of Sturgis and moving to Ann Arbor in 2007 to help open this store.

“I had been approached by the owners about buying the store in the past, but I’m a young person and I wasn’t sure I had the funds to do it,” says Jefferies, whose parents still live in Sturgis.

“But then my parents came to me with the idea of backing me. Once that was taken care of, it was a no-brainer. It is a successful business, and I love it here,” she said.

Founded in Sturgis in 2002 with locations in Ann Arbor, Lansing and Kimberly, Wis., Great Lakes Chocolate and Coffee Co. works with several family-owned chocolate makers mainly in the Great Lakes region to provide fine chocolates.

The company is also known for hand-roasting its own coffee, with a guarantee that the coffee has been roasted within the last seven to 10 days.

The coffee draws commuters and customers on laptops, and the chocolate sales are a great plus, said Jefferies, especially during holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. In addition to buying a few pieces along with their coffee, customers can customize or buy a premade box for a quick gift.

The store features exotic flavors such as champagne truffles, Irish cream truffles and one customer’s favorite—the dark raspberry truffle. Other specialties include chocolate-coated nuts, fruit and coffee beans.

Jefferies always recommends the dark chocolate-covered almonds to hesitant customers. “I remind them that almonds are good for their heart and dark chocolate carries antioxidants,” she said, laughing.

The selection of chocolates includes Irish cream and raspberry truffles.

Laura Blodgett | For AnnArbor.com

Although the chocolates — as well as coffee flavors — are the same across all the franchises in order to ensure that a customer who orders a maple cream in Sturgis gets the same experience in Ann Arbor, Jefferies has implemented a few new ideas since she took over in January.

Most of her ideas she hopes will support other local businesses, such as selling more locally made bakery items. She already carries croissants from the Croissant Shop located on Plaza Drive near the airport.

“He delivers daily and they are always so fresh,” Jefferies said. “They are amazing; just so delicious.”

She also added Sprechers gourmet soda, made in Wisconsin but distributed by Rave Associates in Ann Arbor, and she holds a live music night once a month in the 1,300-square-foot space.

“We’re trying to give local artists a chance to be heard,” said Jefferies.

Having been with the company for more than five years, Jefferies said she's comfortable managing the business, but said the added responsibility on the numbers side, such as handling rising coffee and cocoa prices, is new.

“My dad is really great about helping me make good business decisions, and he is my adviser if I have a question and need his help. He is always there for me,” she said.

Jefferies father is helping in other unexpected ways as well.

“He also delivers me my coffee that is hand-roasted in Sturgis every single Wednesday,” she said.

Laura Blodgett is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.