'Hanging up my apron': Beloved chocolatier to retire, close Lehigh Valley store

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A longstanding destination for handmade chocolate bars, fudge, truffles and other mouthwatering confections is set to end operations in the coming weeks in Northampton County.

Chocolate Lab, offering organic, clean and fair-trade chocolates that are "as uniquely beautiful as the people who purchase them," will close at the end of the month at 446 Main St. in downtown Bethlehem as owner, founder and chocolatier Arlene Brockel retires from the industry.

Brockel established the business in 2002, originally operating the shop a few blocks away on Bethlehem's Broad Street.

"It's been a truly rewarding run," Brockel said.

"I'm most grateful for all of the customers' love and support over the years. I have the best customers, and I've loved getting to know them through the stories and life events that they've shared with me. Many have become like family."

Chocolate Lab makes all of the shop's sweet treats by hand using "high-quality, premium ingredients," Brockel said.

The chocolate, for example, is made from organic cocoa beans grown at fair trade farms in Ghana, Costa Rica, and parts of South America. The beans are then processed in Switzerland, with the raw chocolate containing no fillers or additives.

"Clean chocolate treated with the utmost care from start to finish, will always taste the best," a message on business' website reads.

Customers can shop a wide array of chocolate confections, including dark or milk chocolate nonpareils; dark or milk chocolate marshmallows; clusters such as cashew, peanut, raisin and cranberry; and chocolate-covered treats such as pretzels, potato chips, graham crackers, Oreos, Nutter Butters and dried fruits (dates, pears, peaches, apricots and more).

There are also chocolate bars such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate; fudge selections such as vanilla, milk chocolate and peanut butter swirl; barks such as peanut butter pretzel, white chocolate almond and toasted coconut almond; turtles such as pecan, cashew and assorted nut; and cups such as coffee, maple bourbon, fluffernutter, graham cracker, toffee crunch, hazelnut, strawberry daiquiri, peanut butter and inside out peanut butter.

Truffles, sea salt caramels and various buttercreams, including blood orange, lavender, lemon and rose, are among the top-selling items, Brockel said.

"Our zingers are also really popular," Brockel said of the shop's custom creations, featuring peanut bits and peanut butter swirled in chewy caramel, coated in dark chocolate and topped with sea salt.

Chocolate Lab's chocolate is naturally gluten-free, and vegan dark chocolate options are also available.

Other customer favorites include assorted chocolate gift boxes and Bethlehem-centric treats, including chocolate bars showcasing the Bethlehem star or Bethlehem Steel logo.

"We use molds to make a lot of our designs," Brockel said. "The Bethlehem designs are really popular as favors at weddings or special dinners."

After being laid off from a medical device company, where she worked for 20 years, Brockel set out to open her chocolate shop in 2002.

She took a few culinary courses, including a chocolate class at Northampton Community College, and fell in love with the art of chocolate making.

She operated Chocolate Lab at two locations a few blocks away on Broad Street — one near Joe's Tavern and the other near Apollo Grill — before moving operations to its current location in 2011.

The shop's last day on Main Street will be April 30, Brockel said.

"To all of my valued customers I would like to thank you for your business," Brockel announced Tuesday morning on the business' Facebook page. "I will be hanging up my apron and retiring at the end of April. So come in and stock up on your favorites before we close!"

As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the online announcement had garnered more than 230 reactions and 120 comments, primarily from longtime customers extending warm wishes to Brockel.

"We will definitely miss you Arlene," one person stated. "You are awesome and so are your chocolate treats. Happy retirement."

"Thank you for your generosity and friendship over the years!" another person wrote. "We will miss you and your wonderful candy, made with talent and love. Bethlehem was a sweeter place with you there."

"I am happy for you but very, very sad," another person commented. "You made the best chocolate in the [Lehigh] Valley. It's been our Christmas tradition since my girls were little for our family to stop at your shop to fuel up on chocolate before we did our yearly Christmas outing. You will be missed. Not only for your candy, but for always having time to say hello and remembering us year after year. Good luck in your future endeavors and have fun!"

Following the store's closure, Brockel plans to enjoy some relaxation locally before moving out-of-state with her husband.

"I'm looking forward to taking some time off, and then we're going to move down to Atlanta, Georgia," Brockel said. "We have some family down there."

Chocolate Lab, which also sells hot beverages such as coffee, tea, lattes and hot chocolate, is open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For the latest updates, follow the business'Facebook page. Info: chocolatelabbethlehem.com.