Li-Lac Chocolates Selected to be Amongst Top Brands at Hudson Yards

After 95 years of serving the New York Community, the iconic Li-Lac Chocolates brand has been selected to be amongst the more than 100 exclusive stores and restaurants at the greatly anticipated Shops at Hudson Yards opening March 15th. This premier New York chocolate house came from humble beginnings with a small shop on Christopher Street founded by French-trained George Demetrious in 1923. Since then the brand has continued to flourish – handcrafting gourmet small batch chocolate and confections using the same old-world cooking methods and time-honored recipes. The brand is now overseen by current owners Anthony Cirone, Chris Taylor and Master Chocolatier Anwar Khoder, and provides one of the largest selections of fresh, gourmet chocolate in the country. The Hudson Yards store will mark Li-Lac Chocolates' sixth location and serve as the crown jewel of the brand and their new flagship store. The Shops at Hudson Yards is seven floors of retail featuring nearly 100 luxury and specialty stores and unique restaurants occupying nearly 720,000 square feet.

The new Hudson Yards location will be situated on the fourth floor featuring a 15 ft. chocolate case displaying their signature line of fresh, gourmet chocolate – all of which are handmade at Li-Lac's chocolate factory at Industry City, Sunset Park in Brooklyn. The spacious 600 square-foot store features an open design with large sliding glass doors and high ceilings. This stunning shop will carry their full line of chocolate assortments, NY-themed chocolate gifts and specialty molds. In addition, guests will be visually intrigued with an on-site chocolate tempering wheel where they will be making a few select items using their 72% extra dark, dairy-free chocolate. This new chocolate wheel is only available at Hudson Yards.

In honor of the opening, the team from Li-Lac Chocolates will also unveil a brand-new chocolate bar featuring the stunning Hudson Yards skyline. The Hudson Yards chocolate bar will be made of their 72% extra dark, dairy-free chocolate and only be available at this location.

The team, headed by Anthony Cirone and Master Chocolatier Anwar Khoder, continues to work to expand the brand to an ever-evolving audience while maintaining their tried-and-true methods of chocolate making. Cirone, who previously served as the Global Brand Director at Unilever, and Khoder, originally from Lebanon who built his career at Li-Lac, have been instrumental in creating this balance. Their Hudson Yards location serves as a gateway to bringing Li-Lac Chocolates to the next level, welcoming a new global audience, and providing exclusive New York chocolates and gifts to a discerning crowd.

Li-Lac Chocolates, whose celebrity fans have included Emma Stone, Adele, Martha Stewart, Jodi Foster, Liv Tyler, Glenn Close, Julianne Moore and Sally Field, has five other locations in the West Village, Greenwich Village, Chelsea Market, Grand Central Market, and the factory/store at Industry City, Sunset Park. Over the past 95 years, Li-Lac Chocolates has become a New York legend. While many cherished and loved historic local brands are disappearing across the city, Li-Lac Chocolates continues to

thrive by remaining true to its history and tradition, eschewing automation and trendiness. Today, Li-Lac Chocolates is one of the few old-school chocolate companies to survive into the modern era.

To view Li-Lac Chocolates full product line please visit https://www.li-lacchocolates.com/

Li-Lac Chocolates locations: Hudson Yards: 10th Avenue at 32nd St. West Village: 40 8th Avenue (at Jane Street). Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker Street (btw Sullivan & Thompson). Grand Central Market: 43rd Street & Lexington Avenue. Chelsea Market: 75 9th Avenue (at 15th Street). Brooklyn Factory/Store: 68 35th Street (btw 2nd & 3rd Avenue) Brooklyn.