Godiva To Close All 6 Los Angeles Locations

LOS ANGELES, CA — Chocolatier Godiva became the latest victim of the pandemic, announcing plans to close its 128 North American stores, including six locations in the Los Angeles.

The international chocolatier announced the move Sunday less than two years after initiating a major push to open 2000 cafes worldwide, Business Insider reported. However, the pandemic stymied those plans as customers shifted their dining habits to take-out and their shopping online.

Godiva will keep its brick-and-mortar locations open through Valentine's Day, the busiest time of the year for Godiva sales.

"Of course, this decision was difficult because of the care we have for our dedicated and hard-working chocolatiers who will be impacted," the company’s CEO Nurtac Afridi said in a written statement. "We have always been focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision."

Chocolate lovers will still be able to find their favorite Godiva treats online and at retail partners, the company announced.

The Los Angeles locations slated for closure after Valentine's Day include:

• Cerritos: The Los Cerritos Center
• Torrance: The Del Amo Fashion Center
• Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Village
• Canoga Park: Westfield Topanga & The Village
• Glendale: Glendale Galleria
• Arcadia: Westfield Santa Anita

The company did not say how many employees will be impacted by the closures. The company plans to complete the closures by March, CNN reported.