Spokane businessman Vincent Bozzi and his wife, Emily Bozzi, have bought the assets of Chocolate Apothecary LLC, a 7-year-old gourmet chocolate business here. The purchase is scheduled to be completed June 1.

Vincent Bozzi, who also owns with his wife magazine publishing company Bozzi Media, declines to disclose the details of the transaction.

Chocolate Apothecary was established in 2005 by its departing owner, Susan Davis, and has been located on the main retail level of the Flour Mill, at 621 W. Mallon, since it opened. Bozzi says he plans to keep the business at its current location and also will retain its three existing employees.

As part of the sale, Bozzi says he acquired franchising rights that Davis previously had set up for the gourmet chocolate, gelato, and coffee shop business.

Bozzi says for some time he'd been considering buying an existing business based here that he felt would benefit from more promotion, such as that which could be provided through Bozzi Media's publications. On a whim, Bozzi browsed listings on Craigslist.com for businesses that were for sale and came across a post listing for sale the Chocolate Apothecary.

"I liked the concept of it, and it fit what I was envisioning—a place that didn't do a whole lot of promotion," Bozzi says. "We plan to ramp up the marketing and advertising of the business."

He says he plans to promote the business with print advertisements in the publications he owns through Bozzi Media, as well as via other means.

Bozzi says that the business has been profitable during the last several years, and adds that Davis was looking to sell it because she works full time in another career.

One change Bozzi says he plans to make as new owner of Chocolate Apothecary is to open the shop on Saturdays, a day that it previously had been closed. He also says he'd like to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages there, such as wine, and might add gourmet cheeses to complement the business's offerings and future planned wine selections.

Bozzi Media, which was established here in the mid-1990s, publishes several magazines, including Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living, Spokane CDA Woman, Prime, Washington Magazine, and Inland Business Catalyst.