Tucked between other businesses on the 300 block of Ames’ Main Street is a small business with a history as rich as the chocolate found behind its glass display cases.

Chocolaterie Stam is a fine European chocolate company with a history going back to the early 1900s. The Ames store was the first to open up shop with nonfamily owners, but that will not be stopping it from celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary on Thursday.

In 1913, Jacobus Stam, founder of the shop, was convinced to turn his bakery to a chocolate-only shop.

“The Stam family has produced chocolate ever since,” said Terry Stark, owner of the Ames store. “Ton [Stam] ended up coming to America, and opening some Stams in Des Moines.”

After noticing Americans’ willingness to buy high-end foods, Ton Stam, grandson of Jacobus, wrote to his family in Europe requesting the family recipes, Stark said.

Today, the chain has branched out to different cities.

The Ames store is filled with candies ranging from chocolate frogs, chocolate tulips, locally produced gelato, and wines from Iowa vineyards.

“We think we have a fun atmosphere in our shop for people to come into Ames and either get what they want … or come in and sit for a while and visit,” said Anne Stark, co-owner of the Ames store and Terry Stark’s wife.

The chocolate is made with no waxes or preservatives. Terry said that if the temperature gets to be 68 degrees, the chocolate begins to get “stressed.”

Terry said he first approached Ton in 2005 after retiring from a 30-year law enforcement career. Terry was looking to own a small business but was not sure what kind.

On a whim, Terry said he asked Ton if he would be interested in letting people outside of his family enter the business.

“[Ton] told me to write my name and number on a piece of paper, and he said we’ll see what happens,” Terry said. “So I wrote my name and number on a piece of paper, and he quickly tore that piece of paper in half and threw half away and stuck half in his pocket, and he did it so fast that I couldn’t really tell which half he threw away.”

Ten months later, Terry got a call from Ton. In November 2006, the Starks opened their Ames store.

“People come in happy, most of the time, and they leave happier,” Terry said.

The open house for the 100th anniversary will take place on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and will feature live entertainment and an official ribbon cutting. Ton, who still owns three stores himself, will be in attendance, Terry said.

“All of the stores will celebrate the hundredth anniversary. Two stores have already celebrated it,” Anne Stark said.

Beyond just selling chocolates with the Iowa State logo on them, the Ames Chocolaterie Stam has Iowa State ties; both of the Starks attended school at Iowa State.