Aigner Chocolates (Google Maps)
Sept. 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin
A Forest Hills chocolate shop celebrated its 90th anniversary Sunday, which was made even sweeter after surviving the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Aigner Chocolates, at 103-02 Metropolitan Ave., celebrated nine decades in business with local elected officials and neighbors Sunday afternoon.
The shop opened in 1930 as Krauses Candy Kitchen until the early 1960s when the Aigner family bought the business and renamed it. The family made chocolate and candy in the same corner store for three generations.
In 2015, Aigner Chocolates was bought by a married couple, Mark Libertini and Rachel Kellner. The pair continue to produce chocolate on antique equipment, using recipes passed down through generations.
“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.
The chocolate shop is a long-standing staple in the Forest Hills neighborhood and when the pandemic hit, it became even more important to the community.
Libertini and Kellner have donated chocolates from their shop to frontline workers throughout Queens and Long Island since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.
They created the Rainbow Bunny Exchange in which children were asked to draw rainbows with a message of support for frontline workers and drop them off at the shop in exchange for a free chocolate bunny pop. In just two weeks, Aigner Chocolates collected more than 300 drawings and donated them to Elmhurst Hospital.
Neighbors came out in troves to support Aigner Chocolates when they heard it had been burglarized.
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3 Comments
This place used to be the best in Queens until new owners in 2015 took over. They are arrogant, rude and expansive. The quality went down the drain as well. They become very passive aggressive towards the person, If someone who cares give their feedback. Read some of the negative Yelp reviews and you will have an idea. Hope they realize it and revisit their approach towards the customers.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! That’s wonderful! See you soon.
Though I am not 90 I have been going to this store as Krauses for a goodly number of years, since the late 1950s as a young child. I no longer live in Forest Hills nor NY — so I do not get there as often — maybe once a year when back in the city. But will make it a point to stop in on my next visit to what I still consider my home — Forest Hills!!! Keep making those GREAT CHOCOLATES!!!