Candy and chocolate lovers who didn’t get their fill of sweets this Halloween can rest easy. Traders-turned-chocolatiers Randy Guttenberg and Rob Weiss have pursued their “sweet” dream of opening a fun, family-friendly business close to home—one that serves up every kind of chocolate confection imaginable seven days a week.
The dads and local residents—Weiss lives in Millburn, while Guttenberg hails from nearby Livingston—have opened Chocolate Works at 321 Millburn Avenue.
Chocolate Works owners Randy Guttenberg and Rob Weiss (credit Elizabeth Alterman)
Friends since college, Guttenberg explained that he’d been attending franchise shows for more than a decade looking for the right investment. What ultimately drew him to become a modern-day Willy Wonka was the fun vibe of the family-owned chocolatier.
“It was cool,” said the dad of three. “Their display had Mickey Mouse, King Kong and dinosaurs. You could see how it would really appeal to young kids.”
But in addition to the obvious pleasure of being surrounded by chocolate and happy children, Weiss said he really liked the company’s business model, which offers multiple revenue streams.
Not only does the shop feature an enormous assortment of chocolates in all shapes and sizes (Weiss and Guttenberg highly recommend the truffles), it’s also a great place to host a birthday party or ladies night out, the entrepreneurs explained. With more than 50 molds to choose from, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your own mouth-watering masterpiece, Weiss noted. Budding artists have the unique opportunity to decorate with colored, liquid chocolate.
“Right now my daughter is having a lot of fun making sunflowers,” Guttenberg said with a laugh.
She isn’t the only one having a good time. The business owners happily note that so far feedback from patrons and party-goers has been extremely positive. From a book club meeting to a group of psychologists who hosted a seminar in the store’s ample back room, guests have taken the time to email the owners to compliment them on the well-run events.
credit: Chocolate Works Facebook page
“Because we’re both from the area, we know a lot of people,” Weiss explained, “so everyone has stopped in to wish us the best. The town has been overwhelmingly supportive. My kids go to school here so it’s great to see lots of their friends stop in.”
Though Chocolate Works opened its doors in September, Weiss, Guttenberg and their families celebrated the shop’s official grand opening the last weekend in October.
It’s been busy, agreed the owners, who are grateful to their wives for rolling up their sleeves and working to ensure the new venture is a success.
In addition to huge assortments of jelly beans and M&Ms in more than a dozen colors, the franchise offers custom-branded chocolate gifts for corporations to use as holiday gifts, product launches, trade show giveaways, and tokens of appreciation. With more than 12,000 molds, Weiss and Guttenberg can customize anything a guest wishes.
The entrepreneurs have been receiving plenty of orders for bar/bat mitzvahs, showers and party favors not to mention for their tempting chocolate pizzas.
“The chocolate fountain is a big hit,” Guttenberg noted. “We also have syringes that you can fill with melted chocolate. Those have been pretty popular too.”
To answer the question on everyone’s mind: How much weight have the new business owners gained since they opened the chocolate emporium? Not an ounce, they said.
credit: Chocolate Works Facebook page.
“I never have a chance to sit down,” Guttenberg joked, “not that I’m complaining.”
For more information, visit Chocolate Works Facebook page, email millburn@chocolateworks.com or call 973-218-9222
