After four years of operating as an e-commerce business, woman-owned Handcrafted Chocolate opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Point Pleasant, NJ on November 15.

Founded by New Jersey-born and based pastry chef Lauren Klein, Handcrafted Chocolate creates small-batch, artisanal, hand-painted bonbons and filled chocolate bars in unique, rotating flavors. Chef Klein uses ethically sourced chocolate and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

We recently connected with Pastry Chef and Founder and Owner Lauren Klein to learn more about her background and what inspired the jump to a physical store.

Liz Parker Kuhn: Can you please share a bit of Handcrafted Chocolate’s history and origin story?

Lauren Klein: Handcrafted Chocolate was born out of the need for a sustainable e-commerce business in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was home in New Jersey doing bake sales out of my mother’s kitchen. I was searching for a business concept that could sustain e-commerce only if need be, but also realized the product had some sort of shelf life. Enter the hot cocoa bomb fad! This led me to doing bon bons full time.

I eventually got word of a commercial kitchen for rent at night. In February 2021, I sold my first bonbons and hot cocoa bombs. I gave the owner of the commercial kitchen a box of chocolate as a thank you for letting me use the space and he said, “these are special, you can't stop this." That summer I developed my concept and officially launched 10 original flavors in September 2021.

LPK: What made the business want to open its first brick-and-mortar store?

LK: I have been running my business as e-commerce only with an online store and doing local pop ups for four years. I outgrew the space I was renting at night and needed to expand into my own kitchen space but options for ghost kitchens that made sense were very limited. Having a retail store also really helps financially and provides a place for customers to physically walk into. Plus, we love being part of the community!

LPK: How did you decide you wanted to be in the confectionery business?

LK: I went to school for baking, pastry arts, and food service management. I decided I wanted to be in this field a long, long time ago while watching an episode of Cupcake Wars. 

LPK: What kind of confections do you sell?

LK: Chocolate truffles, specifically bonbons with soft fillings!

We create small-batch, artisanal, hand-painted bonbons and filled chocolate bars that are offered in unique, rotating flavors. We use ethically sourced chocolate and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

We ship nationwide. Both our online shop and new storefront sell our flagship decorated bonbons, candy bars, cordial cherries, crunch peanut butter cups, chocolate caramels, and more. The products are available for purchase individually as well as in assorted boxes of various sizes.

LPK: Will the storefront have any confections that the website does not have, or vice versa?

LK: Yes, our New Jersey shop will offer exclusive store-only flavors and a selection of different items like chocolate coated nuts, espresso beans, and raisins. In spring 2025, I’m planning to also expand into gelato. 

LPK: You recently appeared as a contestant on Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship season 11. How was that experience, and how has it helped your business / ideas for confections?

LK: It was such an incredible experience and I’m so grateful I was able to be part of the competition! I’m the only contestant from season 11 that ships nationwide and it undoubtedly helped boost sales for my business.

LPK: What is your favorite product that you make?

LK: My favorite truffle flavor is Speculoos Cookie. The bonbon features a white chocolate ganache mixed with speculoos cookies layered with speculoos crunchy cookie butter. My favorite item in general is definitely the Goo Bar! The hand-painted candy bar is filled with Madagascar vanilla marshmallow, salted caramel, and peanut almond gianduja.

Related: Vosges debuts holiday treat collections