Sweet move
Christopher Norman Chocolates Ltd. relocated their corporate and manufacturing headquarters two weeks ago from the Lower East Side to 60 Broad St. and will open a retail shop of the company’s custom chocolates.
Christopher Norman Chocolates, previously located at 12 Rivington St., had been looking to relocate farther Downtown, according to Maria Marra, of Cogswell Realty Group, which represented the landlord of 60 Broad St. They moved Downtown on November 8 and their opening date is being targeted for early December. The gourmet chocolatier is known for its handcrafted and hand-painted chocolates.
“They were looking Downtown,” said Marra. “I introduced him [John Down, “Chief Chocolate Officer”] to Wall Street Rising and they were very helpful. He really liked the space. It’s a little off-the-beat type of place. She showed Down the benefits of moving Downtown, which included saving money with the negotiable leasing prices. They signed a 15-year lease.
Wall Street Rising is a post-9/11 Downtown business group.
Christopher Norman Chocolates supplies Dean & Deluca, Martha Stewart, Newman Marcus, E luxury, and Henri Bendel. They also do special commissions for clients such as Hermes. The realtors are not concerned about attracting customers Downtown.
“We think he’ll do great down there. He makes pieces of art out of chocolate and the retail will be on display. People can have coffee and have chocolates,” Marra said.
Housing meeting
The Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition and the Mitchell-Lama Council will conduct a Mitchell-Lama convention from 5:30-8 p.m. Mon. Dec. 1 at the Hunter College Danny Kaye Auditorium at E. 68th St. and Lexington Ave. The event, sponsored by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, will include tenant leaders, housing agency lawyers and consultants talking about Mitchell-Lama buyouts, rent increases, subsidies and tenant rights at complexes like Independence Plaza in Tribeca.
Vet award
Vince McGowan, assistant executive director of the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, was one of five people honored by New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., at the comptroller’s 2003 Veterans’ Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
McGowan, who served in Vietnam, was involved in the planning for the Vietnam Memorial at 55 Water St. and was former operations director of the Hudson River Park Trust.
C.B. 1 meeting
On Tues., Nov. 25, the youth and education committee of Community Board 1 will meet at 6:00 in room 709 of 49-51 Chambers St. to discuss the following: funding for the youth bureau, a possible new elementary/intermediate school at N.Y.U. Downtown Hospital, the spring youth fair, and the new school policy of banning student cell phones in schools.
Free ‘Pippin’
The Borough of Manhattan Community College theater club will present two performances of “Pippin” on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. B.M.C.C. theater major Marcus Dargan will direct the musical, which explores the life of Pippin, son of ninth-century emperor Charlemagne. Admission is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entry and may be obtained at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center box office, 199 Chambers St. Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 2-3 from noon to 5 p.m.
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