Iconic Chocolate Brand to Open First City Chocolate Shop in Midtown Manhattan

San Francisco-based Ghirardelli Chocolate Co. is set to open its first retail location in New York City. The store, located at the base of the iconic Empire State Building, will begin welcoming customers next week. This marks a significant milestone for the chocolatier, which is part of the Swiss Lindt & Sprüngli group.

Historic Location and Opening Details

The new store, opening on August 6, occupies 2,758 square feet on the ground floor of the historic Empire State Building on West 34th Street. This building, once the tallest in the world, now features Ghirardelli among its tenants. Founded in 1852 in San Francisco, Ghirardelli is one of America's oldest premium chocolate brands and is currently led by CEO Joel Burrows.

Store Design and Features

The new Ghirardelli store pays tribute to its San Francisco roots with design elements such as a replica of its original marquee sign, blue-and-gold tiling, and a hot fudge kettle machine. The shop will offer a variety of chocolates and ice cream.

Retail Environment and Leasing

Located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, the Empire State Building houses several other food and beverage retailers, including Chipotle, Chopt, Tacombi, and a new Starbucks Reserve. The space Ghirardelli now occupies was formerly a Starbucks.

Leasing and Representation

Fritz Kemerling of Alvarez & Marsal represented Ghirardelli in the lease negotiations. Representing the property owner were Matt Ogle, Corey Zolcinski, and Patrick Smith of JLL, along with in-house representative Fred Posniak. As of the end of June, the Empire State Building is 93.4% leased, with the overall commercial portfolio of the real estate firm at 92.6%.