Above, at the grand opening of Li-Lac Chocolates on Greenwich Ave., from left, Andres Pazmino, president of the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce; Anwar Khoder, a co-owner of Li-Lac Chocolates; state Senator Brad Hoylman; Assemblymember Deborah Glick; and Christopher Taylor, a Li-Lac Chocolates co-owner.
BY THE VILLAGE SUN | Li-Lac Chocolates, Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house, recently opened a new location in the heart of Greenwich Village.
The new store — the company’s sixth location — is on Greenwich Ave. just west of Seventh Ave.
The 95-year-old company started out on Christopher St., founded by George Demetrious, a Greek immigrant who studied the art of chocolate making in France.
In 2005, the historic Christopher St. shop was closed but reopened a few blocks north to Eighth Ave. and Jane St. The company also moved its chocolate production to Brooklyn, where it is now based in Industry City.
With Li-Lac’s opening of the new Greenwich Ave. shop, the Eighth St. store was recently closed.
There are also other Li-Lac outlets on Bleecker St. and at Chelsea Market, Grand Central Terminal and Hudson Yards.
On Sat., Oct. 19, politicians and the president of the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce helped celebrate the grand opening of the chocolatier’s new Village shop.
State Senator Brad Hoylman read a statement and presented Li-Lac Chocolates with the New York State Senate Empire Business Award.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods,” Hoylman said. “At a time when multinational corporations and big landlords are making it difficult for small businesses to survive, it’s wonderful to see this local Greenwich Village small business thriving. I’m proud to present Li-Lac Chocolates with the New York Senate Empire Business Award to honor their years of success and sixth location. What could be sweeter than that?”
The Empire Award is the state Senate’s highest award for local businesses, honoring them for excellence and community involvement.
Hoylman was joined at the grand opening by Assemblymember Deborah Glick; Erik Bottcher, chief of staff to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson; and current Li-Lac owners Anthony Cirone, Anwar Khoder and Christopher Taylor.
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