‘I just like to make people happy”: How one veteran is turning his service into chocolate

Nov 10, 2025 - 15:25

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‘I just like to make people happy”: How one veteran is turning his service into chocolate

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- One veteran is serving chocolates after serving as a chef in the U.S. Marines during the First Gulf War.

Tim Gearhart is the owner of Gearharts Fine Chocolates, located in both Charlottesville and the Short Pump area of Richmond on 11331 West Broad.

The veteran started his business in 2001, where he decided to pour his love for baking into the community.

Owner and veteran Tim Gearhart (Photo: 8News Nia McMillan)

Gerhart said his love for baking started from an early age.

"Well, so I, we've had the chocolate shop now for 25 years, and before that, my actual background was [in] pastry, and I've kind of always been a kid that was interested in food," he said.

Gearharts Fine Chocolate (Photo's: 8News Nia McMillan)

He served four years in the fifth regiment of the U.S. Marines Corps as a chef during the First Gulf War aboard the USS Tarawa where he learned to cook sauces, soups and breads from scratch.

"And it was a highly decorated, one of the the most decorated units in all of the Marine Corps and [I] spent really four years kind of bouncing around and all kinds of different kinds of training," Gearhart said.

During his service, the veteran turned business owner was stationed in different parts of the world, from Asia to the Persian Gulf and South America. Being in these different locations and watching how they processed their foods and chocolates gave birth to some of his own menu items.

"I was, lucky enough to, I've been to a couple of different, countries, Central and South America, to get to see chocolate from the beginning, from the tree [to] all the way, all [of] the production process," he shared.

During Gearhart's time on a plantation in Peru, he said they were served several different dishes, one of which was what he described as a fancy corn nut, adding that it was delicious.

"It got me thinking, I was like, wow you know, I love that the thought of toasted corn, and I got home and I started thinking about it," he said. "I came up with that caramel bar that had, it's called half popped popcorn... you basically boil popcorn and, so it only pops halfway, but it's delicious and it has a really cool texture and all that stuff."

At Gearharts Fine Chocolates they offer a wide range of flavors from dark and milk chocolates, vegan chocolate assortments, miso caramels, Chai spiced pecans, apricot brandy and other unique flavors.

Gearharts Fine Chocolate selection (Photo: 8News Nia McMillan)

When asked if his time spent overseas influenced these flavors, Gearhart shared this, " It's funny because I don't, I don't know that I put the two, like, again, because chocolate really wasn't part of my thought process back then, but I will say, I would say curiosity was really the driver."

He continued to share that other than curiosity, his love for culture, people and what food does for people are the driving factors behind why he does what he does.

"Honestly, I know it's corny and I mean, but I just, I just like to make people happy," he said.

Gearharts Fine Chocolate selection (Photo: 8News Nia McMillan)

For some veterans it can be difficult adjusting to life after service, and in some cases finding your niche. Although Gearhart pointed out that although his exposure was limited, and can't speak for all veterans, he did emphasize this point.

"I think what I can, what I want rings true to me is to, to always know, that what you might not be thinking is important right now, it could be very important later, and something that you didn't even think about, in my case, it was chocolate, how much joy it brings me to handle something, you know, the tiny little things over and over and over," he said.

Gearhart also emphasized just how important it is to lean on people you meet and to lean on your buddy.

"I mean, that is a core, core value and, I think that is probably, a big, tool," he said.

As Veterans Day approaches, a new menu item will serve as both a sweet treat and as a way to give back to those who served.

Gunny's Bark is a blend of milk or dark chocolates along with sea salts and other tree nuts.

During the week of Veterans Day, Gearhart stated that 15% of all proceeds from Gunny's Bark purchases will go towards the USMC Heritage Foundation.