When I think about a chocolate factory, the first thing that comes to mind is Gene Wilder sporting a top hat and purple suit sailing a boat down the chocolate river…but one can only dream, right?
The closest I have come to living this fantasy was on a staff visit to Jomart Chocolates in Brooklyn, NY. Jomart is just as whimsical as Willy Wonka's imaginery world, but the owner, Michael Rogak, was not wearing a funny costume. Upon entering the sweet shop, the rich smell of chocolate goodness churning in the temping machines immediately takes over, an aroma that Michael “will never get sick of.” Wheels spinning dark, milk, and white chocolate surely make you think of those Umpa Lumpas. On display as you explore the store is a scrumptious variety of confectionary items including chocolate covered marshmallows and pretzels, caramel nut patties, truffles, and an assortment of chocolate bars in flavors like ginger peanut, cinnamon coffee, and “oh fudge."
Michael Rogak comes from a line of candy makers and is the “son of a son of a candy maker,” as he likes to put it. His grandfather made penny candy and his father and uncle opened Jomart Chocolates after World War II in 1946. “It was a time when people needed to celebrate the good things in life,” says Michael, and his father wanted to be involved in a business that helped people do just that; what better a business than chocolate! Today Jomart’s motto remains the same: “helping people celebrate the best thing in life.” Luckily enough there is always something to celebrate, even during today’s economic times. “Chocolate equates happiness for most, and there is a lot of room for innovation in the confectionary business,” says Michael.
In terms of quality, Jomart’s homemade goodies can compete with many house name candies. The NYIRN staff found this out themselves as Michael made a fresh batch of peanut butter cups before our eyes, and then the tables turned as he watched us devour all of them. Jomart Chocolates are hand dipped and filled, and they make many of their centers and fillings, including marshmallow and caramel, from scratch. In fact, Michael still uses the same old-school granite stove and copper kettles as his father did to make deliciously fresh sweets. Over the years the shop itself has expanded in size to include two adjacent spaces where Jomart sells greeting cards, gifts, cake decorations, and candy molds. The entire space is approximately 4,500 square feet and rests on a small track of manufacturing zoned land within a residential neighborhood.
For all you chocolate lovers out there, Jomart offers chocolate making classes and workshops. You can design your own “ Life Tastes Better with Chocolate-Private Workshop” for you and a friend or attend their weekly chocolate class. Michael will teach you tempering, flat molding, 3-dimensional molding and how to make truffles-from scratch. No experience is necessary!
Place an order for some of Jomart’s mouth watering chocolates on Jomart’s Website or call 718.375.1277 to book a class!
If you are interested in having your business featured in the NYIRN newsletter and on www.madeinnyc.org, please contact Sanam Shetty at sshetty@nyirn.org or call 212.404.6990 x. 25.
