Our Story
A Legacy of Chocolatiers
Our family has been making premium chocolates since 1914. From signature salted caramels, decadent terrapins and a wide variety of chocolate barks, you will find an assortment of freshly-made chocolates to enjoy, share, or give as gifts.
Charlie and Orania immigrated from Greece and opened their first chocolate shop and soda fountain in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.
At the time, a milkshake was a true treat for the whole family. Home refrigeration was a luxury few could afford, so to savor the taste of ice cream, let alone the thick chill of a handmade milkshake, was cause for an excursion to a soda fountain.
The soda fountain was thriving when the second generation joined the family business. Our grandparents not only stepped into the shoes of their predecessors, but also strived to uphold and expand upon its rich legacy brought to the United States by their parents. As proud chocolatiers, they introduced their children to the business at a very young age.
As the third generation entered the family business, it came time to move from making chocolates in the back of the store, to opening a chocolate factory. Our first factory was opened just a few blocks from the original soda fountain in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.
The fourth generation of chocolatiers was born. They grew up in the chocolate factory, watching their parents make handcrafted truffles and caramels the same way generations did before them.
The long-time chocolate shop’s popularity continued to grow on the South Side of Pittsburgh. This shop, with its iconic red tin ceiling, would later become the first location of the MilkShake Factory®.
More than a century from its soda fountain days, MilkShake Factory® was coined as a result of one of Dana’s college business projects.
The fourth generation took over the business and established a menu that blended high quality ingredients and imagination, which boasted a variety of inventive shake flavors. And of course, still included chocolates.
MilkShake Factory® became Pittsburgh premier milkshake and chocolate destination as we opened retail locations around the Pittsburgh region. Using our family’s ice cream and chocolate recipes, we serve handspun shakes, craft sundaes, and gourmet chocolates just as our great grandparents did in 1914. We continue on with their legacy by making housemade ice cream in stores daily and serving the highest quality products to our customers.
We are expanding our legacy and growing our family across the country with the mission to support the communities we serve in. As our family continues to expand, we are staying true to our legacy of commitment to quality and service with a smile.
