BOARDMAN, Ohio – Gorant Chocolatier in February will open a new store in New Castle, Pa., and a temporary pop-up shop inside a restaurant in Columbiana.
The New Castle site is in a two-storefront commercial building at 2425 Wilmington Road, Neshannock Township. Bill’s Sandwich Shop is on one side, and the Gorant store will occupy the other side.
The Columbiana location will be inside Sabi’s Restaurant, in Red Brick Commons, on state Route 7, adjacent to TownCenter at Firestone Farms.
“We saw a void in the New Castle market when Jameson Candies closed in 2024,” co-owner Bergen Giordani said.
The company is using the Columbiana location as a way to test the market to determine if a year-round store is sustainable in that city, she said.
The New Castle location will have the same look as Gorant’s flagship store in Boardman and will operate year-round.
The Columbiana location will be seasonal, operating only from the Valentine’s Day season through Mother’s Day, Giordani said.
Both locations will offer the gifts and chocolate specialties that Gorant’s has become known for, including Yum Yums, Pecan Tootles and French mints.
Giordani and Dr. Nino Rubino purchased Gorant Chocolatier in 2023. They opened their flagship location at 400 Boardman-Poland Road in 2024, and will open a dessert bar in the store this year, after their liquor sales permit is finalized.
The company has increased its production capacity, which has allowed it to add retail locations, Rubino said in a press release.
“We are committed to honoring the traditions and recipes the Gorant family created over 75 years ago and are continually investing in new technology and equipment to produce the highest quality product,” Rubino said.
Pictured at top: Dr. Nino Rubino and Bergen Giordani, co-owners of Gorant Chocolatier.