8 The Courier sun • february 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com NOT SO SWET MADELAINE CHOCOLATE UP FOR SALE BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com/@magghayes The beloved Madelaine Chocolate factory is up for sale, following a brief comeback after Sandy. The Rockaway Beach sweet spot suffered over $50 million in structural damages and loss of sales after the superstorm and was forced to shut down for about a year. They partially reopened in October 2013, but as of last week, the facility is on the market, said co-owner Jorge Farber. “Considering the extent of the damage, there was only so much we have been able to do,” Farber said. “We are sitting on a 200,000-square-foot facility and only utilizing 50 percent of it.” Madelaine Chocolate officials listed the site with real estate firm CBRE for an undisclosed amount of money. Interested buyers have the option of taking over the unused half or the entire four-building complex. “There are all kinds of options we need to explore,” Farber said. “We’re going to relocate only if we can sell it. It’s a long, long process.” The organization does not yet have a relocation space in mind, but one thing is for sure -- their chocolates are here to stay. “Our customer base has remained intact considering we were out for a year,” Farber said. “I’m just sitting on excess real estate.” After Sandy, Madelaine Chocolate received a $250,000 grant from National Grid and $6.9 million from Empire State Development to retain its 315 employees. The Small Business Association also loaned the company close to $13 million. They were able to rehire 120 people and partially operate on four of the 14 lines. But despite assistance, the complex at the foot of the Cross The Madelaine Chocolate Company’s Rockaway facility is up for sale after partially reopening last October. Bay Bridge is on the market. Before the storm, it was one of the biggest local employers in the region and had 315 full-time employees. “The Madelaine Chocolate Company is not only a community gem, but has been one of the largest employers and supporters of our community for decades,” said Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder after the reopening. At its peak, the 65-year-old FILE PHOTO chocolatier group produced 20 million pounds of chocolate annually and garnered $40 million in total sales. Its eight kitchens produced about 100,000 pounds of chocolate a day. PHIG-063466 ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL GOLDFEDER Wishes You and Your Family A Happy and Safe Presidents’ Day Ozone Park District Office 108-14 Cross Bay Blvd. Ozone Park, NY 11417 718-641-8755 The Samuel Field Y/Central Queens Y Business Council invites you to our Fourth Annual Breakfast Tuesday, March 11, 2014 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at The Douglaston Manor 63-20 Marathon Parkway, Douglaston, NY 11362 Honoring Gus Buitrago Vice President, Flushing Bank 2014 Business Leadership Award Ronald Fatoullah Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq. Ronald Fatoullah & Associates 2014 Community Leadership Award RSVP by March 3, 2014 To Jennifer Colletti-Membreño at 718-225-6750 ext. 238 or email jcm@sfy.org The Samuel Field Y/Central Queens Y Business Council Sponsors include: Arash Real Estate and Management Co., Brandywine Assisted Living, Daily News, Flushing Bank, Forest Hills Hospital, Hankin & Mazel, PLLC, Keller Williams Realty, Law Offices of Ryan J. Walsh and Associates, Mash City Business Systems, Men on the Move, Minuteman Press of Bellerose, New York Community Bank, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens Courier, Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, Star of David Memorial Chapels, Sterling Risk, Tanenbaum Associates, LLP, Attorneys at Law, Trooper Foods, Weeks Lerman, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage These business leaders are proud to support outstanding programs and services including: Early Childhood Programs - Summer Camp & Sleep away Options - Youth Leadership Training - Programs for Older Adults Family Respite Programs for Seniors with Alzheimer’s and Dementia - Programs for Children with Special Needs and Autism - CAPE Geriatric Mental Health Clinic - Career Counseling and Work Readiness Programs After School Programs in Schools Throughout Queens Bay Terrace Pool & Tennis Center - And so much more! Samuel Field Y 58-20 Little Neck Parkway Little Neck, NY 11362 (718)225-6750 www.sfy.org Central Queens Y 67-09 108 Street Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718)268-0511 www.cqy.org
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