FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
‘A community staple and treasure’: Forest Hills
chocolate shop celebrates its 90th anniversary
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
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
offi cials 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. Th ey 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 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 offi cials 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. “Th ank 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. “Aigner’s quality cannot be
matched, and what they have given back
through philanthropy and community
engagement is equally immeasurable.
Rachel and Mark have done an incredible
job keeping Aigner in the spirit of
Forest Hills while making innovations to
keep it going for the next 90 years.”
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz
off ered 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
Photos by Dean Moses
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.”
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