Local Chocolate Shop Brings Joy During the Pandemic

By Alex Malanoski

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Over the last year, separation from friends and family left many feeling isolated and alone. Despite the pandemic, Jacqui Rodriguez, store manager of Sweet on Chocolate, said she strives to bring a sense of joy and normalcy to customers through her love of chocolate. 

“I found that chocolate has become a vice. It’s a comfort food for people,” she said. “They can’t see their family and friends… maybe they’re at home indulging a little more, so we bring a bit of comfort to people… a little something they’re used to having during regular times that they can have at home and be safe.” 

This holiday season, Syracuse’s premier chocolatier took some pressure off the Easter Bunny with a wide array of delicious treats. The chocolate shop offered a special Easter basket that came with a cream filled egg, a chocolate bunny, a carrot pop, jelly beans and a bag of nonpareils. 

Returning customer Lisa Procanick said she looks forward to enjoying unique Easter confections from Sweet on Chocolate every year. 

“Their chocolate is so good. Everyone likes it,” she said. 

Susan Lamanna fell in love with Sweet on Chocolate when she first stopped in the year it opened in 1993. Lamanna said the chocolate shop’s new flavors made fresh in-house daily are what set them apart from their competitors. 

“It certainly is something different and something very special,” she said. “You can go to a lot of chocolate places, you can go to the stores that sell chocolate, but you can’t quite get the delicious flavored truffles they make. I’ve never seen such an assortment of truffles and they’re very good.” 

“If you’re in the market for something good and something different, this is the place. You can’t get it anywhere else in Syracuse quite like this,” Lamanna added.