British Chocolate Brand Opens Two Shops in NY

British artisan chocolatier Chococo (Dorset, England) is making its U.S. debut this spring with the opening of two Chocolate Houses in New York. The first location is now open on the Upper East Side at 1293 Third Ave., to be followed by a flagship set to debut on May 2 at 500 Madison Ave. in Midtown East.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Claire and Andy Burnet on England’s Jurassic Coast in 2002, the brand is known for its direct-trade, single-origin chocolate sourced from Ecuador, Colombia, and Madagascar, as well as its use of fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients.

The New York Chocolate Houses blend a retail destination with a warm, café-style experience. Guests can explore curated selection boxes, fresh truffles, single-origin bars and a loose chocolate counter. The locales will also feature a coffee program in partnership with Abbotsford Road Coffee, artisan pastries from SMOR and premium gelato by Il Laboratorio del Gelato.

The 1220-square-foot flagship at 500 Madison Avenue between 52nd and 53rd streets will offer the full Chocolate House experience, along with chocolate tastings and workshops where guests can customize and hand-paint their own bars.

“Launching Chococo in the United States is an exciting new chapter, and New York felt like the perfect place to begin,” said Claire Burnet, Co-Founder of Chococo. “Our Chocolate Houses are an invitation to experience what chocolate can be when craftsmanship and sourcing are never compromised.”

The New York debut marks the brand’s first step overseas. In addition to its six locales in the U.K., Chococo plans a shop in San Marino, Italy, but did not provide details on its locale or opening date.