Aigner Chocolates Maintains Nearly 100 Years of Chocolate Tradition

For almost a century, a historic candy kitchen at the corner of 71st Road and Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills, Queens, has been delighting customers with its handmade chocolates. Today, Aigner Chocolates is a woman-owned local business that continues this long-standing chocolate tradition using original German-Austrian recipes and classic candy-making equipment.

Roots Tracing Back to the 1930s

The chocolate business first opened its doors in 1930 as Krause’s Candy Kitchen. The Krause family ran the business for three decades until 1960 when ownership passed to the Aigner family. The iconic shop kept the name Krause’s until 2007, even after a rebranding effort by its then owners. "People are still referring to the place as Krause’s Candy Kitchen," explained current owner and president Rachel Kellner, highlighting the enduring legacy of the shop in the Queens, New York community.

Transition to New Ownership and a Woman at the Helm

Rachel Kellner and her business partner purchased the shop in 2015 from the Aigner family. They acquired not only the storefront but also all the cherished German-Austrian style recipes and candy-making machinery found in the basement of the historic candy kitchen. This year marks a significant milestone, as Kellner became the store’s sole owner. With a background as a therapist before entering the chocolate production world, Kellner says she's proud to lead a business that just might reach its 100th birthday. "To be able to be a woman-owned business, to be able to lead us into 100 years of being here is a really big deal," she said.

Handcrafted Candy and Unique Chocolates

Aigner Chocolates is known for its creative products, including the popular Vampire Poop Emoji Pop, a milk chocolate treat with whimsical white chocolate eyes. The shop employs three full-time staff members who handcraft these unique chocolates five days a week, occasionally joined by interns. Production is already underway for the holiday candy season, having started preparations for Halloween as early as July and now moving into Christmas production.

Expanding Local Presence and Continuing Tradition

The shop’s reach is set to grow, as Aigner Chocolates will soon have a presence at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 6, potentially expanding chocolate production to seven days a week. Through these changes, Kellner is committed to keeping the nearly century-old chocolate tradition alive, emphasizing the importance of support and community along her journey as a small business owner.

Inspiration for the Future

Kellner hopes her experience can encourage other women to pursue business ownership. "Hopefully other woman are gonna, you know, know that it’s possible, that anything is possible right now,” she said, reflecting on the storied past and bright future of this beloved local business in Queens.

Source: ny1.com.