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Sept. 18-Sept. 25, 2020
Local chocolate shop celebrates 90th anniversary
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Forest Hills confectionary
Aigner Chocolates, one of New
York City’s oldest chocolate
shops, marked 90 years in business
on Sunday, Sept. 13, with
an outdoor celebration next to
the shop’s Metropolitan Avenue
headquarters.
Mark Libertini and his wife
Rachel Kellner, co-owners of
Aigner Chocolates, were congratulated
by Queens elected
officials and dignitaries at the
shop located at 103-02 Metropolitan
Ave.
“We feel honored to be able to
continue the Aigners tradition
and feel a unique sense of pride
when we hear stories of customers
who have been purchasing
confections from us for their
family celebrations for generations,”
Libertini said.
Since the beginning of the
pandemic, Aigner Chocolates
has donated chocolate to frontline
workers and communities
throughout the Queens and
Long Island area. They initiated
the Rainbow Bunny Exchange
which provided young
New Yorkers an opportunity to
feel more involved in supporting
front line workers in the
community. Kids were asked
to draw rainbows, add a message
of support, and drop them
off at the shop in exchange for
a free chocolate bunny pop. In
two weeks, Aigner Chocolates
collected over 300 drawings
and donated them to Elmhurst
Mark Libertini (second from right) and Rachel Kellner (third from right), co-owners of Aigner Chocolates,
celebrate the shop’s 90th anniversary with Queens elected officials. Photo courtesy of Aigner Chocolates
Hospital’s Helping Healers Heal
program.
“It is a privilege to be part of
a New York City tradition. Mark
and I feel honored to have met
the Aigner family, and to be able
to make chocolate and confections
in the old world style. We
love being part of the Forest
Hills community and look forward
to spreading joy with our
chocolate in the years to come,”
Kellner said.
Aigner Chocolates, formerly
known as Krauses Candy Kitchen,
opened in 1930 and became a
neighborhood institution in the
Forest Hills community. During
the early 1960s, the Aigner
family bought the business
and for three generations, they
manufactured chocolate and
candy in the same corner location
on Metropolitan Avenue.
During that time, they changed
the name from Krauses Candy
Kitchen to Aigner Chocolates.
In 2015, Libertini and Kellner
took over Aigner Chocolates
continuing a rich family
tradition by making chocolate
and confections in the same
old-world style. All of the chocolate
is produced using antique
equipment and recipes passed
down through the generations.
Queens elected officials applauded
Libertini and Kellner
for their amazing work giving
back to the community.
“Aigner Chocolates has
helped make Queens sweeter for
90 years and counting. Even in
this challenging time for small
businesses, Rachel and Mark
have continued to give back
to the borough by delivering
chocolate to frontline workers
and homebound seniors during
the height of the COVID-19
pandemic,” Senator John Liu
said. “Thank you to Aigner
Chocolates for your dedication
to the community and for your
delicious treats; and many congratulations
on your 90th anniversary.”
Assemblyman Andrew
Hevesi said they’re extremely
grateful to have Libertini and
Kellner as part of the community.
“It’s special when a local
business takes ownership in
our communities, and we certainly
do not take it for granted,”
Hevesi said.
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz
offered a sincere gratitude
to Libertini and Kellner
on continuing an “exceptional,
traditional business.”
“Producing chocolates and
candy of unsurpassed quality
for 90 years, Aigner Chocolates,
formerly Krause’s Candy Kitchen,
is truly a Forest Hills community
staple and treasure,”
Koslowitz said.
Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz, a Forest Hills native,
described Aigner Chocolates as
a “neighborhood treasure.”
“I grew up going to Aigner
Chocolates, known as Krause’s
Candy Kitchen, when I was a
kid,” Katz said. “Congratulations
to Rachel Kellner and
Mark Libertini for continuing
this wonderful Queens business
and keeping alive a tradition for
making chocolate that brings joy
to so many in the community.”
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4526.
Vol. 86 No. 38 36 total pages
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