Waukesha Christmas Parade: New Brookfield Shop To Donate Sales

BROOKFIELD, WI — The owner of a new Brookfield chocolate shop will donate a portion of its grand opening sales to the Waukesha community to help victims of the Christmas parade disaster.

Indulgence Chocolatiers, located between Goddess and the Baker and Le Macaron at The Corners, will host a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, and the donation will go to the United for Waukesha Community Fund.

The Waukesha County Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the Waukesha Education Foundation established the fund to raise money for victims' families. The fundraiser can be found online.

Owner Julie Waterman and her daughters, 8 and 12, attended Sunday's Waukesha Christmas parade, where an SUV slammed into the crowds and resulted in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to more than 60 others.

"We were across the street from where the car went into the crowd and then back into the parade," Waterman said on Facebook. "We saw people hurt, some beyond hurt, and experienced the collective pain of that community. Thankfully we are ok."

Waterman and her children discussed their grief and fear. "We need to recognize the gift we are given with each new day and move forward," Waterman said.

Waterman's girls seem better now, but were very frightened and sad at first, she told Patch.

She thought about canceling the grand opening, but her girls reminded her of their conversations and said she needed to recognize the opportunity she was given, Waterman said.

"It is hard to ask you to come celebrate with me, but I would be thrilled to be surrounded by friends and community to share the accomplishments of the talented and wonderful people I work with," she said on Facebook. "If you are able to stop in I would love to see you."

The new store is Indulgence's third location. It also has storefronts in Shorewood and Walker's Point in Milwaukee. The business was founded in 2007.

The new shop will serve handcrafted confections such as truffles, chocolate bars, cocoa mix and toffee, The Corners said.