Godiva is closing its only store in Puerto Rico and 127 more in the United States

Godiva, the luxury chocolate chain, is joining the group of companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has just announced that it will close more than 100 stores in the United States.

The company has one store in Puerto Rico, which is located in Plaza Las Américas, and will be affected by the business decision. The establishment was located in that mall since 2000.

In total, 128 Godiva in North America will shut down operations during the first quarter of this year. The news comes less than two years after the company announced it planned to open 2,000 coffee-type businesses in different countries. The plan never materialized.

In announcing the closure of the Godiva in the US, the company confined itself to stating that the decision was due to the impact the pandemic had on its operations. “We have always focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand. That’s why we made this decision,” said Nurtac Afridi, CEO in a press release. “Of course this decision was difficult because of the concern we have for our dedicated chocolatiers and workers who will be affected,” he added. It did not specify how many employees will be affected by the decision.

Lovers of the famous Belgian chocolates can continue to buy them through their website, in stores that sell the brand or while traveling to the regions of Europe, China and the Middle East, as the Godiva stores there remain open.

Another chocolate shop hit by the pandemic in Plaza Las Américas and not reopening its doors was Magritte Chocolatier. After nearly 40 years of operations in this mall, the business closed last summer amid the decline in revenues due to the temporary closure of operations and the accumulation of costs.

In the United States, there are also dozens of retail chains that have closed several stores or filed for bankruptcy because of the economic blow COVID-19 has caused them. These include: JCPenney’s, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, GNC, Brooks Brothers, and restaurants such as Sizzler and Ruby Tuesday, just to name a few.