Cocoa Bean Fine Desserts Business Profile

Luckily for folks in the Fox Valley, pastry chefs Paul and Nancy Saucedo decided to open Cocoa Bean Fine Desserts in Geneva in 2004.  It is located at 11 South 7 th Street (just south of State Street).  If you haven’t yet stopped by for coffee and a delicious treat, you are really missing out.  Everything at the Cocoa Bean is made fresh and from scratch.

The Saucedos had accumulated great credentials before opening the Cocoa Bean.  A graduate of Kendall College, Paul had 15 years prior experience, including working at the Rhapsody Restaurant in Chicago’s Ritz Carlton Hotel and the French Room at the Hotel Adolphus in Dallas.  Nancy received her degree from Northern Illinois University, and received Le Grande Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.  Her 10 years’ experience includes working in France, as well as here in Chicago at the United Center, where she opened their Catering department, and in Dallas at the Four Season and eatZi’s.

But working for others was not the direction they wanted to take long term.  Paul, in particular, had always wanted to have his own business.  Returning to the Chicago area in 2003, they researched where they might start a business which would be dedicated to making fine pastry.  They settled on Geneva, and brought the first of its kind coffee shop to the Fox Valley.  But the Cocoa Bean is much more than a coffee shop.  It offers exceptional pastries, a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items, and a sophisticated cake and sweet table catering service, par excellence.

Nancy no longer assists Paul in the kitchen.  She concentrates on customers and working with brides.  Paul now focuses on the “finishing” work – creating pastries that are not just delicious, but that are works of art.  He also heads up development of new menu items, like the homemade chorizo quiche, one of their latest entries.  The menu rotates with the seasons.

When the Saucedos designed the space in Geneva, they deliberately included an extra-large kitchen capable of supporting both the Geneva location, and another future storefront in an as yet unnamed suburban location.

When asked “what advice would you give to others who want to start their own restaurant,” Paul and Nancy said that their years of experience gave them the critical edge.  Their business continues to thrive, and their fine reputation continues to grow. 

The Saucedos have been working with the Illinois Small BusinessDevelopment Center at Elgin Community College since 2003, when they first sought assistance in developing their business plan.  Over the years, they have forged a strong relationship with the ISBDC counselors.  Paul is grateful for that relationship, emphasizing that the ISBDC was always there to listen, to give sound advice, and above all, to lend their moral support.