Ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, the iconic Madelaine chocolate company has been given new life. (Credit: CBS2)Ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, the iconic Madelaine chocolate company has been given new life. (Credit: CBS2)
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) — Chocoholics rejoice! A New York City chocolate institution has new life after Superstorm Sandy nearly washed it up.
Madelaine, the pride of the Rockaways, an iconic chocolate company that has stirred up smiles for 65-years is sticking around thanks to millions in city recovery and development funds.
“Sandy put us out of business, that’s what it actually did,” Jorge Farber, President, Madelaine Chocolate told CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff.
Hurricane water washed out $50-million in specialized equipment and stockpiles of chocolate. One of the city’s largest manufacturers was shut down.
“It was very heartbreaking. Right before the storm we had 450 people working here. But, unfortunately we had to lay them off,” Farber said.
For a multi-million dollar company small business loans were a drop in the bucket. The family owners put the 3-block land up for sale.
Mayor Bill de Blasio sweetened the pot, raising the cap for Hurricane Sandy business grants. Madelaine gets $13-million in awards and in return delivers chocolate and jobs for the next decade.
“They say ‘okay, we are going to help you guys out and help you get back to business to where you were before and get people back to work,'” Farber added.
Madelaine Chocolates doing 30% biz pre-Sandy. Rockaway Beach co hopes grant will 2X revenues. 3+ft wtr. @wcbs880pic.twitter.com/mbtnSjtRFN