One of the best sweet shops in New Jersey, if not the country, will be finding new digs in the coming months and has started a fundraising effort to help get their operations back up and running as soon as possible.
L’Atelier du Chocolat has been serving the community out of space inside the Grove Pointe building at 321 Marin Boulevard. The business, started by Eric Girerd, serves artisanal chocolates and café-style pastries that have won accolades that include being named one of the top ten chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.
A sad announcement was made on the shop’s Instagram earlier this month, as the business will no longer be calling the Kushner Real Estate Group-owned Grove Pointe home. A GoFundMe created following the revelation says that the building’s landlord notified them about a huge increase in their rent that was forthcoming.
“Unfortunately, this was the last straw, and we are no longer capable of staying in business,” the fundraiser notes. “With your help, we will have the chance to be able to start once again in a new location.”
The apparent retail rent increase at the Grove Pointe property is interesting due not only to the struggle of small businesses amid COVID-19 but also based on the development’s current marketing. A visit to the building’s website shows a promotion that is currently offering three months of free rent to tenants who sign a 15-month lease for a vacant and renovated unit.
Regardless of the circumstances, L’Atelier du Chocolat will be moving to space at 251 Newark Avenue, a deal that was brokered by Grid Real Estate. Their GoFundMe endeavor aims to raise $75,000 for the relocation and a sign on the door of their new home notes the future business will be called D’Exception Boutique. No timeline has been announced for the shop’s opening.
