Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Japanese Chocolatier Royce' Brings Light Treats to Bleecker St.

GREENWICH VILLAGE — Even if you've already sampled all the gourmet delicacies on Bleecker Street, there's always room for an airy chocolate treat from the Japanese sweets shop Royce', according to an executive at the company's new Village store.

A household name in Japan, Royce' makes confections that are heavy on flavor yet delicate, operations manager Lucia Santiago said Monday afternoon.

"[Royce' chocolates] are rich in flavor but mild in consistency so you never feel overly full," she said.

The 253 Bleecker St. shop is now open seven days a week after opening just on weekends since early March.

Royce' specializes in ruffled potato chips covered in chocolate on only one side for a sweet-salty taste ($17 for a 7-ounce box) as well as in delicate bricks of soft chocolate ganache coated with chocolate powder, which the company calls Nama, meaning "fresh" in Japanese ($18 for a 4.4-ounce box).

Many of the chocolates for sale at the Village store can be tasted, like chunks of the 4.4-ounce chocolate bars available in milk chocolate, almond and rum raisin ($8 each).

The stray apostrophe at the end of the Sapporo, Japan-based company's name is no mistake, Santiago explained.

"The owner wanted to come up with something original and unique for people to remember," she said.

Santiago said opening a Royce' shop in the Village was a no-brainer.

"It's the perfect target market of tourists walking on Bleecker Street and people who live in the West Village and will like items like the green tea [chocolates]," she said.

Located at 253 Bleecker St., Royce' is open daily from noon to 7 p.m.