Empire State Realty Trust will welcome Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to its first New York City store in a 2,758-square-foot retail space at the base of the Empire State Building (ESB).
“Ghirardelli Chocolate is excited to open our first shop in New York. We are proud of our 171-year history that started in San Francisco, and pride ourselves in making quality chocolate so delicious it ‘Makes Life a Bite Better,’” said Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in the announcement. “We can’t wait to welcome our guests in New York to create sweet memories with friends and family for many generations to come. Our shops are designed to showcase our history and heritage and highlight our craft in handmaking our hot fudge. It truly feels like the cherry on top to open in New York City’s iconic Empire State Building. We welcome everyone to visit and grab our World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae this summer!”
Ghirardelli will join other food and beverage retailers which include Chipotle, Chopt, Juice Press, Tacombi, State Grill and Bar, Samurice and the new Starbucks Reserve. ESB retail tenants benefit from high volume foot traffic and access to major transportation hubs and subway lines.
“Ghirardelli perfectly complements our excellent mix of food and beverage options for tenants and Observatory visitors at the Empire State Building,” said Fred C. Posniak, senior vice president, leasing. “We are pleased to welcome Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to the most authentic, iconic location in Manhattan.”
Fritz Kemerling of Alvarez & Marsal Inc. represented Ghirardelli in the lease negotiations. Posniak and JLL’s Matt Ogle, Corey Zolcinski and Patrick Smith represented the property owner.
