Thirty Years for
Lazar’s Chocolate

A Family Recipe
From Europe

By Carol Teplin
  This is a very special time for Lazar’s Chocolate at 72 Middle Neck Road.  They are celebrating 30 years in business in the Village of Great Neck Plaza.
     The owner, Richard Lazar, attributes his business’s longevity to a great tasting product!  Says Mr. Lazar: “We consider the taste of our chocolate the best in the world.  We have never altered the original recipe that Grandpa David Lazar developed when he brought his secret recipe from Europe to downtown Manhattan where he founded Eee-Laine Chocolates of Cortland Street 70 years ago.  We taste everything we make and we either initiate or follow the ‘chocolate trends.’”  For example Mr. Lazar reports that they are the first chocolate specialty store to make personal chocolate bars while you wait, with your photo and/or personal message right on the wrapper.
     Dark chocolate, with it’s health benefits, has become increasingly popular, particularly the high cocoa content and single plantation varieties.
     The store in Great Neck Plaza is their “corporate office”. Even though they have two other stores, one in Wheatley Plaza, and one in Bay Terrace, you will find either Richard, or one of his sons (Jeff & Marc) in the Great Neck store every day.  This is truly a “pop and pop” store!
     Another factor that adds to the appeal of Lazar’s Chocolate is the customer service they provide in the store.  They pride themselves on producing a quality product for all seasons and all occasions, from their trademark chocolate covered nut clusters to their sugar-free chocolates, if you have a sweet tooth, you will find it here!  If you require shipping or delivery, they make that service available to you as well. 
     This reporter had a difficult time watching the manufacturing of their walnut clusters in the production area of the store.  As Richard and his son Marc supervised, son Jeff was running the machine and hand coating the walnuts with melted dark chocolate.  They looked and smelled so delicious that it took all the self-control we could muster to keep our hands at our side and leave the store without snitching one.!
     The Great Neck Community sends lots of good wishes for continued sweet success to Lazar’s Chocolate, a very fine example of the stability and prosperity of a small “mom and pop” store on “Main Street USA”.