FAQs
What's with the vintage looking logo?
What do you mean by "simple on the outside–special on the inside"?
What about those 'best quality ingredients'–what does that mean exactly?
How did you get your start making and selling your chocolates?
Do you make everything right there in your shop? It's SO tiny!
I've heard that your products are "gluten-free"– what is that about?
Can your products be shipped–and what about shipping to warmer climates, or during the summer months?
Can I buy Roni-Sue's Chocolates anywhere else?
Do you do wedding or party favors?
What's with the vintage looking logo? Our logo actually IS a vintage image, from my childhood. In the '50's my mom had a women's clothing store in South Jersey called The Charm Shoppe and when I was born she added a little girl's clothing section and called it the "Roni-Sue Shoppe" after me! Before opening my chocolate shop I decided that calling it Roni-Sue's Chocolates and using that vintage sign would be a fitting homage to mom–and hopefully a good omen for my business. So far, so good! top What do you mean by "simple on the outside–special on the inside"? I believe in spending money on the best quality ingredients I can find to put into the candy you're going to eat–rather than on some lovely packaging that is ultimately only pretty garbage. Roni-Sue's Chocolates are packaged simply and elegantly to showcase our uniquely flavorful products at their best and freshest–for your enjoyment. We put our money where your mouth is! top What about those 'best quality ingredients'–what does that mean exactly? I draw my inspiration from an ever changing array of ingredients, and luckily I live in NYC where almost anything you can imagine is available just a subway ride away! My two year sociological study of the NYC Greenmarket system for a recent degree from NYU gave me a deeper appreciation for local, seasonal produce. Many of my truffles and candies benefit from the richer taste profile afforded by using fresh, local ingredients from the Union Square Greenmarket. Another favorite NYC haunt for exotic ingredients and freshly ground spices is Kalustyan's in Murray Hill. top How did you get your start making and selling your chocolates?  I first learned to make buttercrunch with my L.I. neighbor, friend and long-time chocolate partner Judy at an adult-ed class over 20 years ago. It must have been in November because we each made elaborate cornucopia decorations for our Thanksgiving tables after taking the class–then we decided to make buttercrunch for our friends and family for the holidays. The rest is history!
Over the years, Judy & I made an ever expanding repertoire of candies, coming together for an intensive 10 -14 day marathon each year, producing 400 + pounds of candy for our ever-growing lists. Though we were approached often by backers and food professionals alike who urged us to make our candies professionally, we never did pursue that option and both Judy & I went on to have rewarding careers.
Fast forward to January 2007 and after several years commuting to LI from NYC to work and in anticipation of graduating from NYU in May, I decided to finally take the plunge and do my chocolates professionally–full time.
A serendipitous visit to the Essex Street Market in January 2007 where I met Jeffrey of Jeffrey's Meats resulted in a two-month trial of my products at Jeffrey's store where I sampled and sold from his space to see if local shoppers would embrace my concept. They did, and I successfully applied for a space in the Market, finally opening Roni-Sue's Chocolates in October of 2007. Thanks Jeffrey! top Do you make everything right there in your shop? It's SO tiny! Actually, if you think our shop is small now, you should have seen our first space in the Market! In the summer of 2009 we moved from our original shop in the Essex Street Market into a space in front with twice the room. Of course we've already outgrown it but in NYC we're used to working in small spaces! Yes, we do make everthing on-site now which is wonderful. Until we moved into our complete kitchen we'd been using a kitchen incubator in Queens, renting commercial space by the 8 hour shift to cook our buttercrunch & tea & honey lollipops. Now we produce everything on-site–and in full view of passersby! Stop by and see us sometime! top I've heard that your products are "gluten-free"– what is that about? First of all, although most of my candies and treats are gluten free, [i.e. made without wheat gluten or products that contain wheat gluten] it is important to note that all are made in close proximity to products made with gluten & nuts. Those individuals who are highly allergic to even air-borne contamination should avoid our products. With that said, most of our "off the rack" products are celiac friendly. We take extra precautions to make our products as safe as possible for consumption by our friends with celiac disease. By dipping the few products we make that contain gluten, or come into contact with gluten at the end of the day and disposing of the remaining chocolate we do what we can to protect you from gluten cross-contamination. top Can your products be shipped–and what about shipping to warmer climates, or during the summer months? Luckily we've done our research and are happy to provide year-round shipping with our special inflatable, insulated sleeves and 'no sweat' freezer packs available for shipping to warmer climates or during the summer. Where possible we ship via USPS Priority service to minimize shipping expense, while not compromising service quality and delivery time. Please check our on-line store for current shipping rates to your area. top Can I buy Roni-Sue's Chocolates anywhere else? Yes, since fall of 2009 Dean & DeLuca has carried some of our products in their catalog, website and several of their stores around the country. Much of our line is featured in the 'Best of New York' section of a local NYC delivery service--if you live in a certain section of the city you can have Roni-Sue's delivered to your door in an hour or less! Our wholesale business is growing steadily so look for us at a fine gourmet shop near you. Because our truffles need to be kept in a climate controlled case for best quality and freshness, most other retail outlets prefer to carry our shelf-stable products only at this time. For example, one of our most popular wholesale product is our critically aclaimed Tea & Honey lollipops. We even make custom/proprietary tea & honey lollipops for several tea salons and cafes, brewing their own special tea blends for use in the lollipops, ensuring a product unique to them alone. Royal/T NY Times article top Do you do wedding or party favors? Of course! Check out our selection here and view our homepage on the Martha Stewart wedding website! top
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