The U.K.'s luxury chocolatier Hotel Chocolat has hit town with a splash, opening two stores this month in Lakeview (3334 N. Southport Ave.) and Lincoln Park (900 West Armitage Ave.). The big ...

Hotel Chocolat is predominantly based in the U.K., with 124 domestic stores plus outlets in Ireland and Gibraltar. However, to date overseas expansion has been anything but smooth and chocolatey.