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NorthJersey.com Storefront: Chocolate Etc. by Joan Verdon Worth the Trip Rating:  Do you have a taste for something different for your next birthday party, bar mitzvah, or Communion celebration? Looking for party favors your guests will savor? Or do you have a craving to see your name spelled out in chocolate? Check out Chocolate Etc. in Wyckoff for customized chocolate goodies. You can order chocolate bars wrapped in your own personalized message, ($1.50 per bar), chocolate hearts for Communion parties, chocolate baby booties filled with tiny chocolates for showers, and pretty much anything else you can think of to make your party stand out from the crowd. Or, you can even bring the party to the store. Chocolate Etc. hosts chocolate-making parties for kids' birthdays and Scout groups ($14 a child, and each guest gets a box of handmade chocolate treats to take home and a certificate from the University of Chocolate). The store is the latest entrepreneurial effort of Jay and Marcia Vidockler, whose candy and pretzel carts were popular fixtures at Paramus Park. They opened Chocolate Etc. three years ago while maintaining their mall businesses. Recently they decided to concentrate their efforts on their thriving chocolate store, which is in the midst of an expansion that will double its size. That will create more space for parties and display space for chocolate molds and other "make it at home" equipment. At Paramus Park, the Vidocklers were known for designing creative gift packages for teachers, bus drivers, coaches, etc., and that knack remains evident at Chocolate Etc. You can ask them to create something special just for you, or pick up one of their pre-packaged gift baskets. This is the time of year when their Easter baskets and handmade chocolate carrots and Easter eggs are bestsellers. At Thanksgiving, their super popular $25 chocolate cornucopias filled with cookies fly out of the store. They've had cornucopia-crazed customers walk in and say, "I'll take every one you have." Parents in search of a different and fun birthday party for their children are already making long trips to Chocolate Etc. If we were planning a party, we'd go out of our way and make the trip to order some unique party favors sure to make all our guests say, "Gee, how sweet!" |
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