Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory

This Philadelphia chocolate company began as an extract company in 1900 founded by three Blumenthal brothers  in the Old City neighborhood in Philadelphia. Initially the family business specialized in manufacturing flavoring extracts for bottlers, distillers, bakers, and confectioners and soon expanded, in 1905, to add chocolate liquors and cocoa powder to its product line.

The successful company was quickly outgrowing its original location and moved to Margaret Street in northeast Philadelphia, an area with a mix of industrial properties and residential neighborhoods that offered convenient rail access and a steady supply of workers. In 1912, Blumenthal Brothers with architects Stearns & Castor built the first factory on the Margaret Street property and began to produce chocolate. Soon after, The company started to invest in new types of machinery, research, and development that constituted another expansion into finished chocolate treats for retail selling.

Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory (2022RE00512) was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on February 27, 2023, under Criteria A for the area of Industry as a manufacturer of numerous iconic, nationally available chocolate products during the early twentieth century with a Period of Significance between 1922-1981.

Between 2022-2025, Chocolate Factory LLC got underway with a $19.6 million rehabilitation project of the vacant Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory that focused exterior and interior work that balanced the property’s history and industrial character with accommodations for its new use.

Read the full story in the link below.

About US

The SIA’s emphasis on archeology reflects a concern for the tangible evidence of early industry.  Our mission is the study, interpretation, and preservation of the surviving factories, machinery, bridges, canals, industrial communities and artifacts that are historically significant.

Recent Articles
ALL POSTS