Valley Stream has a new sweet spot

Imagine walking into a store in Valley Stream where the aroma of sweet, savory chocolate titillates your senses; where servers continuosly offer you an assortment of delicious chocolate covered treats; where champagne, gourmet coffee and soft drinks flow endlessly. A dream? No, it was the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the long-awaited 5th Avenue Chocolatiere on Rockaway Avenue.

With more than 100 friends, family members, local and town officials and fellow merchants in attendance, owner Joe Whaley, 34, an Army veteran who returned from a 14-month stint in Iraq in 2006, celebrated the opening of his retail and wholesale store on Sept. 17.

“The grand opening was a huge success,” said Whaley. “We were happy that village and town officials came to wish us well, and we’re happy to be part of the Valley Stream community.” Whaley and his wife, Colleen, live in Rockville Centre with their 17-month-old son, Jack.

This is the third location for 5th Avenue Chocolatiere, with two others currently open in Manhattan. Whaley took over the family business from his father, John, who opened his first store 35 years ago. John also helped keep the business going when Whaley was on his tour of duty.

The Valley Stream location, at 396 Rockaway Avenue, replaces an empty store front that once housed a supermarket. With the help of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency — a non-profit, public benefit agency that helps qualified businesses relocate, expand and build in the town — Whaley was able to add to his business, which will be a retail fine chocolate store in the front and a wholesale outlet in the back. He said his business will create 10 more full-time jobs.

“We will also have lessons on how chocolate is made,” said Whaley’s wife, Colleen, a longtime Valley Stream resident. “We will offer birthday parties, ladies’ nights and field trips. We want to make it learning experience as well.”

Along with fresh-made chocolates, 5th Avenue Chocolatiere also offers party favors, gourmet coffees, cookies and candy by the pound.

Anthony Bottan contributed to this story.