By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Sep 08, 2016 at 12:12 PM

The Chocolate Factory has officially opened its newest restaurant in Oak Creek at 7963 S. Main St. 

The location is part of the new Drexel Town Square, which includes a new City Hall and library, as well as retail stores, restaurants, shops, businesses and apartments. Access to the new location is best achieved via 6th Street, as construction continues on the main entrance.

"We’re excited to be the first restaurant opening in the beautiful Drexel Town Square and we’re equally excited about becoming part of this great community," says general manager Mike Toffler. "We’re thrilled to have opened our eighth restaurant here in Oak Creek."

The Chocolate Factory first opened its doors in 1972 as an ice cream parlor and candy store in Cedarburg. Later that year, they added sub sandwiches to their menu, an item that would become a staple for the restaurant. In addition to subs, The Chocolate Factory also offers a variety of salads, sundaes and 24 premium Wisconsin-made ice creams sold by the ounce.

Other Chocolate Factory locations can be found in Cedarburg, Elm Grove, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Shorewood, Waukesha and West Bend.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.