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PROPOSED MOVE OF SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY The South Bend Chocolate Company is currently investigating options to stay at their current location move to a site near the Toll way, or relocate closer to area attractions in South Bend's downtown. This report deals with a proposed move downtown. PROPOSAL: Relocate plant, corporate office to the Commerce Center at 401 E. Colfax. Our intent is to not only move our plant, but to create a major tourist attraction by expanding our existing tour facilities. We currently attract 15,000 people to tour our Sample Street plant. TIMETABLE: Move to be completed by August 1' 2002 with a graduated move -in starting the spring of 2001. TOUR FACILITIES AND DESCRIPTION: Tours will begin with a 15 -20 min. film on chocolate. Then visitors will enter replica of an ancient Mayan ruin, traverse a small bridge and enter a tropical rain forest and see a reproduction of a cacao tree. Displays will educate the visitor about chocolate during this part of the tour. After exiting the rain forest, the visitor will wind through displays that tell the story of chocolate, its history, impact on our culture, diet, with all displays pointing to a final display about the South Bend Chocolate Company. Finally, each group will be able to tour part of the factory. cr The tours will take place in the old Health and Lifestyle lobby and mezzanine. The current windows that allow people to view racquetball players will allow visitors to look into part of the factory. After the tour is complete, visitors will end up in our outlet store and new Chocolate Cafe to make purchases. MARKETING PLAN: We will expand on our existing market, which includes local and regional schools, clubs, associations, and out -of -town tour buses. Mark is on the Convention and Visitor's Board and will continue to work with them. We plan to develop a new tour brochure, and use 2 staff members to operate tour area. This staff will additionally market the tours when unoccupied with them, and work directly with area hotels and attractions for referrals and co- marketing opportunities. Pre - opening plans a. Press releases- create some anticipation with consumers b. Co -op press - market project with City, DT Partnership, etc. c. Schedule Grand Opening- guests list, when, etc. i. Invite VIP's, politicians, the press, downtown businessmen, etc. d. Send out tourist flyers to schools, organizations, daycares, and Visitor Centers within 120 -mile radius. 2. Grand Opening Day Plan