Photo by Bobby Panza
Signage is up at 198 Columbus Avenue (corner of 69th Street) for chocolate spot Venchi.
This will be the Italian chocolate and gelato brand’s second location in the neighborhood; they opened a shop in Columbus Circle in early 2021. Venchi was founded in 1878 and offers a range of gluten-free gourmet chocolates, pralines, chocolate spreads, bars, gelato, hot chocolate and Italian coffees.
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Venchi’s location at 1796 Broadway between 58th and 59th Streets. Bruce Byers Photography
Bruce Byers Photography
The chocolate maker’s product line includes its iconic Chocoviar, Truffles, Gianduiotti, Cremini, Bars, and Suprema spreads.
All Venchi products are natural with no coloring agents, preservatives, or Palm oils. Venchi chocolates contain noble fats such as olive oil and cocoa butter; are all gluten-free; and some are vegan friendly as well.
A fountain of fresh flowing Suprema Chocolate: Bruce Byers Photography
A representative for Venchi tells us they’re aiming to open the new location in mid-November. They’re also planning to open stores on Bleecker Street and at the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey.
The space they’ll be taking over was last occupied by skin care and beauty shop L’Occitane, which in January closed its doors after 31 years.
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The new chocolate shop will be moving in right across the street from Magnolia Bakery, creating a mini “dessert district” on 69th and Columbus (not to mention having Kee’s Chocolates about a block away). Interestingly, Magnolia Bakery is also opening a new location at 1794 Broadway, which is right next door to Venchi’s Columbus Circle store. We thought there might be some kind of strategic partnership going on, but a rep from Venchi told us there wasn’t.
This sweet announcement comes amidst an unusually high volume of dessert news, which has to some extent been dominating our ‘new and coming soon‘ section. Two recent openings have included Janie’s “Life Changing Baked Goods” at 212 West 80th Street and Zai’s Dessertery at 468-470 Amsterdam Avenue.
Three places expected to be opening soon include Chip City Cookies at 370 Columbus Avenue; a second Blue Marble Ice Cream at 2058 Broadway; and Maman, at a location which is currently undisclosed.
To learn more about Venchi, visit us.venchi.com.
good chocolate bars. frequent their branch in union square