Seven Bay Area Godiva Chocolatier shops among closures.
Local stores hope to stay open through Valentine’s
A chain of gourmet chocolate shops is the latest victim of the coronavirus economy.
With pandemic business restrictions limiting the Godiva shopping experience for chocolate lovers over the last year, the gourmet Belgian chocolatier has decided to close all of its brick-andmortar locations in North America.
Although that decision affects 128 boutiques and cafes, Godiva’s gold boxes, or ballotins, of chocolates will continue to be sold online and through other retailers.
Final sales have started at the seven Godiva Chocolatier shops located in Bay Area malls and upscale centers.
Depending on inventory levels, there are plans to stay open through Valentine’s Day at Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara; Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto; Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek; Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton; the S.F. Premium Outlets in Livermore; Stonestown Galleria Mall in San Francisco; and the San Francisco Center downtown.
“Our brick-and-mortar locations in North America have had a clear purpose since we first opened our doors in this market, to provide an in-person experience for consumers to enjoy the world’s most exquisite chocolates,” CEO Nurtac Afridi said in a statement. “We have always been focused on what consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision.”
She added: “Of course, this decision was difficult because of the care we have for our dedicated and hardworking chocolatiers who will be impacted.” No details on numbers of employee layoffs were released.
In the United States, Godiva
now will turn its attention to online sales of chocolates, truffles, hot cocoa and coffee and making those specialty packages available at mass retailers. A check of the website shows offerings at Target, Costco, CVS, Walgreens and other stores.
Retail operations will be retained in Europe, the Middle East and China, the company said.
Founded in Brussels in 1926 by a Belgian chocolatier named Pierre Draps, Godiva currently distributes products in more than 100 countries.
Details, online orders: www.godiva.com