Carlee Wright
Craft chocolate is making a return to Salem with the launch of Rogue Chocolate, a new venture focused on small-batch production, local ingredients, and hands-on experiences.
Founder Ben Bailey, known to many through CHOMP Chocolate, describes Rogue as a craft chocolate company inspired as much by wineries and coffee roasters as traditional candy makers.Â
“I really fell in love with making chocolate,” Ben said. “What I loved most was the craft.”
Alongside chocolate bars and confections, Ben anticipates offering tasting events, educational experiences, wine pairings, and workshops designed to help people explore the flavors and stories behind chocolate.
Rogue sources cacao from small farms and aims to incorporate ingredients from the Willamette Valley, including cherries, hazelnuts, blueberries, and other seasonal products. Ben also hopes to collaborate with local producers to create regionally inspired flavors that reflect the area’s agricultural identity.
Overall, Ben’s goals for Rogue are simple: make exceptional chocolate, share the craft with others, and create something built to last.Â
Rogue Chocolate celebrates its grand opening June 20 from 12 to 8 p.m. at the Reed Opera House, 189 Liberty St. NE. The shop will initially be open Friday through Sunday. Learn more at roguechocolate.com.
This is a story teaser from Press Play Salem issue 28 (Summer 2026). Watch for more coming soon!
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Author: Carlee Wright
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes (Hello, John Fluevog!) who turns waste into wearable art in her "spare" time.
