Godiva closing its U.S. chocolate stores, including 1 at Ross Park Mall
Luxury chocolatier Godiva is closing all of its brick and mortar stores in the United States.
The company will exit its 128 physical locations, some through sales and others through closures, by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Locally, Godiva has a store at Ross Park Mall in Ross.
Godiva attributed the decision to a decreased demand for in-person shopping at its stores because of the coronavirus pandemic. Godiva has also increased its presence in grocery, club and retail partners, as well as boosting online sales.
“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,” Godiva CEO Nurtac Afridi said in the release. “We have always been focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision.”
Although the stand-alone stores will be gone, the chocolate will still be available online and at other retailers.
The number of affected employees was not released by the company.
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
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