Some people open stores. Meshelle Armstrong builds worlds.
The longtime Alexandrian, restaurateur, designer, and creative force behind Restaurant Eve,
Society Fair, Hummingbird Bar & Kitchen, and The Parlour has introduced her latest creation, Madame Coco’s Enchanted Emporium — a wonderfully unconventional chocolate and curiosities boutique in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
Part chocolate shop, part treasure hunt, Madame Coco is a reflection of Armstrong’s lifelong fascination with theatrical design, beautiful objects, and life’s unexpected pleasures.
Her latest creation, Madame Coco’s Mystery Boxes, offers three intriguing choices: The Bewitched Box, The Witching Hour Box, and The Curious Collection Box. Every box contains chocolate, accompanied by a surprise personally curated by Madame herself. What else is inside? Well, that would spoil the fun.
And here’s where the story gets even more delicious.
Just a short stroll away is Armstrong’s intimate little libation lounge, The Parlour, on Royal Street — the perfect place to settle in with a cocktail, open your mystery box, and discover what Madame has chosen for you.
It’s a little shopping, a little sipping, and a wonderfully unexpected way to spend an afternoon in Old Town.
For Armstrong, who has spent decades creating memorable hospitality experiences, Madame Coco and The Parlour represent two sides of the same philosophy: beautiful spaces, unexpected discoveries, and the simple pleasure of indulging yourself.
After all, as she likes to say, “There’s a little Madame Coco in all of us.”
