In a sweet twist of fate, the Empire State Building and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company are set to melt hearts and tantalize taste buds with the grand opening of Ghirardelli’s first-ever New York City Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 6, as two iconic giants collide, creating a chocolate lover’s paradise at the very base of the city’s most famous skyscraper.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect, falling on National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. Ghirardelli, America’s oldest premium chocolate brand, founded way back in 1852, is celebrating its 172-year journey with this delicious milestone. And who better to kick off the festivities than Ghirardelli’s CEO, Joel Burrows, and the legendary Mary J. Blige? Yes, you read that right—the queen of R&B and chocolate enthusiasm will be there to cut the ribbon at noon.
Get ready to sprint, because the first 102 lucky attendees (one for each story of the Empire State Building) will snag a free Ghirardelli World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae. If you miss out on that, don’t despair—mini sundaes will be up for grabs for just $5 from 2-6pm ET. It’s a chocolate bonanza you won’t want to miss.
“We’re thrilled to open our first New York store in the Empire State Building. Now anyone who visits the iconic building can put a cherry on top of their experience by enjoying one of our famous sundaes there,” said Burrows. “Our new store is an important next chapter in our company’s long, rich history. We pride ourselves in making chocolate so delicious it Makes Life a Bite Better.”
The menu promises to be a chocoholic’s dream, with 13 specialty sundaes, including the famous Hot Fudge Sundae crafted with Ghirardelli Handmade Milk Chocolate Hot Fudge, scoops of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, toasted almonds, a maraschino cherry, and a Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Square. And for the first time ever, a Mini World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae makes its debut, perfect for those who want to indulge without overindulging.
But wait, there’s more! Ghirardelli is rolling out new summer delights nationwide, such as the Caramel Waffle Cone Sundae and the Milk Chocolate Caramel Waffle Cone Square, ensuring your summer is as sweet as can be.
Mary J. Blige, a proud New Yorker and long-time Ghirardelli fan, expressed her excitement: “The Empire State Building is as iconic to New York as Ghirardelli is to chocolate in the U.S. I am so excited to be a part of opening this beautiful new store.”
The store, measuring a generous 2,758 square feet, pays homage to Ghirardelli’s San Francisco roots with a replica of the classic marquee sign, blue and gold tiling, and a hot fudge kettle machine. Visitors can expect to indulge in fountain and bakery favorites like sundaes, milkshakes, hot chocolate, coffee, brownies, cookies, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
For those looking to bring a piece of the chocolatey magic home, the Pick & Mix space offers a customizable selection of Ghirardelli’s delectable chocolate squares. And with its prime location near major transportation hubs, this sweet retreat is easily accessible to both locals and tourists.
For more information on the Grand Opening Celebration and the new NYC location, head over to Ghirardelli’s official site.
Prepare for a grand adventure in chocolate as Ghirardelli plants its sweet flag in the heart of New York City, proving once again that life is indeed a bite better with chocolate.