The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop at Disney California Adventure is “moving” from Pacific Wharf to San Fransokyo Square, and in preparation, the iconic animated mural behind the serving area has been changed to focus on the fictional “Big Hero 6” city rather than the famous brand’s true home, San Francisco.

Ghirardelli San Francisco mural

From a distance you might not even see that a change has been made, but if you look closer, things are different.

Effects take place on the 3D mural. The tram runs, lights go on and off, and an “earthquake” shakes the mural. The Ghirardelli Building appears to be falling apart, although the original survived the 1906 earthquake with minimal damage.

Check out the earthquake effect below.

The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop was attacked by San Francisco! Check out the updated earthquake sequence. pic.twitter.com/OguDNY7qhn

— Disneyland News Today (@dlnt) July 24, 2023

A fish-shaped wind turbine straight out of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film flies high above the landscape (including Ghirardelli Square, now complete with Japanese characters on the signage), with the Ghiradelli logo printed on its side. Rita’s turbine mixers are topped with a giant, dimensional prop that also resembles these.

Compare these photos to the old version, pictured below, from the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop’s opening in 2012 (when the world-famous Hot Fudge Sundae was only $8.25 instead of $15.75).

Image source: OC Register

The houses across the street now resemble those from the film and combine Japanese and American influences from the two famous metropolises.

The San Francisco Gate Bridge replaces the Golden Gate Bridge while we await the completion of the real bridge just steps away.

The float is now owned by the City of San Fransokyo and is adorned with new signs and lanterns.

Lanterns with the letters “SFS” line the streets to represent San Fransokyo Square, as well as red lanterns.

Even some minor details, like half-hidden posters and a removed shopping cart, have been updated.

Even a skyscraper in the background was not safe from the changes.

Japanese characters are printed on various sections of the design.

Cherry blossoms adorn the upper center portion of the background. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms are particularly symbolic, representing human life, beauty, and more.

The Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop is open daily and is located in what is now Pacific Wharf at Disney California Adventure. It will be part of San Fransokyo Square when it officially opens to guests on August 31, 2023, but has also promised to introduce some new menu items inspired by the new theme. Details on the new items have yet to be released.

Pacific Wharf becomes San Fransokyo Square

Pacific Wharf’s main entrance bridge is currently closed for the installation of the torii gate towers as it is being converted to the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge.

. The port of San Fransokyo Cervecería is also officially opened. Additional dining and shopping options will be available in the weeks that follow until mid-August, when the remodeling is expected to be complete.

Venues from the Cappuccino Cart to the Bakery Tour will also be decked out with street art and colorful banners in celebration of the Big Hero 6 team.

Guests can interact with Hiro and Baymax (who talk!) in front of the Hamada Bot Shop.

Near the Hamada Bot Shop is the San Fransokyo Maker’s Market, a store featuring unique clothing, home goods and more from Baymax and friends. As can be seen in the concept art above, the shelves of the market stand on top of robot storage boxes displaying decommissioned combat robots. Hiro’s Megabot will be up in the rafters.

Opposite the Maker’s Market, vending machines will feature gold medallions with Baymax motifs and other San Fransokyo images.

Dining options include current Pacific Wharf venues and new options inspired by Asian cuisine and Big Hero 6.

The second bakery café run by Hiro’s loving aunt, Aunt Cass Café serves soups in freshly baked Boudin sourdough bread bowls and more inspired by Japanese cuisine. On the outside of this fast food restaurant you’ll find a mural of Aunt Cass’ happy house cat, Mochi.

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  Malia has been the Social Media Specialist at WDW News Today since January 2022. She is a lifelong Upstate New Yorker who enjoys watching and playing sports, doing illustrations and of course anything Disney related! You can email her at [email protected]

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“We are thrilled to unveil the Chocolate Experience Store to our community of chocolate lovers and hometown of san francisco,” said justin reese, VP of Retail and eCommerce at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. “Our premium chocolate, the historic architecture and the stunning views, have made Ghirardelli Square a favorite san francisco destination. The interior re-design brings a new vibrant experience to the classic space.”

Reopening day festivities will include family friendly entertainment for all with live music, balloon art, and face painting. The first 170 lucky customers in line will receive a free World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae to celebrate the brand’s 170th anniversary. Ghirardelli executives, Eight Inc. and Jamestown property management representatives, along with Kate Sofis, Executive Director of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, will join Mayor Breed in kicking off the event.

“Ghirardelli Square is one of our city’s most beloved destinations that tourists and residents always come back to,” said Mayor Breed. “We know that COVID had a significant impact on our tourism industry, and as we continue to recover, it is critical to establish new experiences for everyone to enjoy. Ghirardelli has helped bring people to San Francisco’s waterfront for almost 130 years, and they will continue to do so with the reopening of their Chocolate Experience Store.”

The renovated space sits within the Pioneer Woolen Mill building which was built in 1864 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. As guests walk through the Chocolate Experience Store, they will have the unique opportunity to watch Ghirardelli chocolatiers hand crafting the brand’s signature hot fudge from only three ingredients: pure Ghirardelli chocolate, milk, and vanilla. Guests can also personalize a tin of signature chocolate squares selected from the brand’s largest Pick & Mix yet and enjoy a World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae in the store’s Alcatraz room while taking in the unobstructed and breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay.

Other store offerings include fresh chocolate bars made with almonds and hazelnuts roasted in-house and pure Ghirardelli chocolate flowing from tempering taps, ice cream served in hand-made waffle cones and bowls, and hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries. See the full store menu here.

The redesigned Chocolate Experience Store perfectly blends modern design elements, like a custom inlay of the Ghirardelli golden eagle and tile work from SF-based company Heath Ceramics, with core elements of the historic structure, like the original red brick walls and timber beams. Also newly on display are hand painted murals and a collection of vintage Ghirardelli advertising dating back to the company’s beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century.

“In collaboration with the Ghirardelli team, we aimed to blend historic elements of the iconic space with new and engaging components of the Ghirardelli retail environment,” said Edmond Kuanmanaging principal of Bay Area-based design firm Eight Inc. “The space captivates visitors with incredible views, interactive features, and a bit of nostalgia—all a great backdrop for enjoying Ghirardelli chocolate.”

The Chocolate Experience Store reopening marks the conclusion of phase one of three for the storied chocolate company’s space renovations at its namesake Ghirardelli Square. The second phase of the project—a renovation of Ghirardelli’s Original Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop—is slated to begin in Jan 2023 and wrap up by May. A pop-up store at the square in place during the renovation process has helped to limit disruption to the visitor experience and Ghirardelli’s business operations.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience Store is located at 900 North Point Street, San Francisco CA 94109. The store will be open Sunday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 p.m and Friday through Saturday, 9:00 am – 11:00 p.m For updates on the renovation, please visit www.ghirardelli.com/StoreLocations-SanFranciscoSquare and for media assets please see here.

About The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Ghirardelli is passionate about quality bean to bar chocolate, and all the ways our fans enjoy it. Founded in San Francisco in 1852, we take pride in producing premium chocolate products with high quality ingredients. Ghirardelli is one of the few companies in America that controls the entire chocolate manufacturing process, from cocoa bean to finished product. This oversight of the manufacturing process combined with Ghirardelli’s proprietary bean blend and unique methods of roasting and processing, ensures that you are rewarded with high quality products. Ghirardelli makes life a bite better! For more information, visit http://www.ghirardelli.com/.

About Eight Inc.
Founded in 1989, the globally recognized and award-winning strategic design firm Eight Inc. has been the forefront of innovation creating ground-breaking experiences for the most beloved brands. With studios in 11 locations, Eight Inc. is organized to provide a holistic understanding of the factors that drive the success of projects at all scales. Through design, Eight Inc. continues to investigate changes in attitudes and lifestyles, changes within the global community, as well as the social and architectural conditions that influence human interaction and aspirations.

SOURCE Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

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