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Our Story
Aigner Chocolates is one of New York City’s oldest chocolate shops, offering handcrafted confections in Forest Hills, Queens, since 1930. Originally established as Krause’s Candy Kitchen, it has grown into a beloved neighborhood institution. The Aigner family took over in the early 1960s and ran the shop for three generations, preserving its legacy of quality sweets.
In 2015, Rachel Kellner and Mark Libertini became the new owners, honoring the shop’s traditions while introducing their own. Today, Aigner Chocolates continues to grow, with its products now available at NYC airports.
The Chocolate
All chocolate is produced on-site using antique equipment and recipes that have been passed down through the generations, including the traditional Austrian/German confections for which Aigner Chocolates is known.
The Owners & Their Vision
Rachel is a licensed clinical social worker, whose visionary approach involves utilizing food as therapy and Mark has 25 years of experience as a classically trained pastry chef in the food industry. While Mark has always dreamed of running a chocolate shop, Rachel’s unique perspective on “food as a therapy” sets Aigner Chocolates apart.
Their management team is mostly led and staffed by women. Aigner Chocolates holds WBENC certification and has obtained WBE certification through both NYS and NYC, highlighting a commitment to excellence and diversity. As it turns out, chocolate can be a powerful source of healing, not only in the Forest Hills community but also everywhere Aigner Chocolates reaches.
Community
Aigner Chocolates is deeply dedicated to the Queens community, continually seeking ways to support local organizations, schools, nonprofits, and hospitals. The company played a key role in founding Metro Village of Forest Hills, a business alliance on Metropolitan Avenue focused on preserving and strengthening the neighborhood. Each year, Aigner donates tens of thousands of dollars worth of chocolates, gift cards, and other contributions to community initiatives.
Quality & Passion with our chocolate!
Our Mission
We spread joy and hope to communities through the magic of our chocolate.
Our Vision
Sharing our passion for the art of chocolate to make the world a better place.
Our Core Values
At Aigner Chocolates, we hold ourselves to high standards and value the importance of community, teamwork, solution-focused thinking, dedication, and striving for greatness. We believe in working together to create exceptional products that delight our customers while staying dedicated to our craft and continuously improving our processes. Our values guide us in every decision we make, and we strive to build a community that fosters growth and success for all.
