What drove you to work or create this company/organization?
In 2012, Peter Moustakerski was hosting his daughter's 10th birthday at a make-your-own arts & crafts shop in New York City. He noticed how everyone at the party, both kids and adults, became joyfully immersed in their hands-on creativity and derived pure happiness from the shared experience. A long-time chocoholic, amateur chocolate scholar, and professionally trained chocolatier, Moustakerski related the experience to how he felt whenever he made his own artisanal chocolates. That was the moment he knew he had to create Voilà Chocolat, to share that feeling and that magic with others.
Moustakerski left his successful career as strategy consultant and wealth manager, and assembled a “dream team”, which includes a nationally-recognized Master Chocolatier and a senior chocolate scientist, to help him create a unique place where every-day consumers, not only trained chocolatiers, could experience the fun and magic of crafting beautiful, delicious chocolates with friends, family and colleagues. The first Voilà Chocolat store opened in December 2014 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Voilà Chocolat has a simple vision: create unexpected happiness for all its customers. Its mission is to delight its customers with fun, artisanal and educational chocolatiering experiences, led by hospitable and knowledgeable staff, using the highest-quality ingredients, and promoting environmental sustainability and healthy living. As an artistic material, chocolate is endlessly fascinating, complex, and creative to work and play with, and Voilà Chocolat is dedicated to helping everyone discover the surprisingly rewarding and entertaining experience of making chocolates.
What time of year would you consider your busy season?
The Holiday Season and Valentine's Day.
What is the most gratifying part of your work?
Seeing the smiles on the faces of our customers, seeing them enjoy themselves and have a wonderful time together.
Has your company or organization been featured in print, broadcast (tv or radio) or online media?
What special deals, sales, events or promotions are you offering to GANYC tour guides and their customers?
Voila Chocolat is extending the following offer to all guides of GANYC:
First visit at the store will be on us. Come with your friends, family or industry partner.
Subsequent visits will be discounted by 20 %. Send an e-mail to nathalie@voila-chocolat.com when you are ready to come, indicating your wish date, time and the number of persons you woud like to bring so we can confirm availability and the offer.
Voila Chocolat is extending the following offer to all tourists working with guides of GANYC
complimentary beverage with any experience and 10% on our retail products (except books and souvenirs) - Use code GANYC2017
Any fun stories or favorite moments you can share about why you love working at your business?
We had a customer, who is over 90 years old, who had a tough medical procedure, and the first thing he wanted to do with his family after he was discharged from the hospital was to come make chocolates at Voilà Chocolat. So he showed up with a group of friends and family, while he was still in a wheelchair and hooked to an oxygen bottle, and they had a great time. We exist so we can create moments like that - unexpected happiness moments for everyone.
We had customers who choose our location to propose and get engaged. An other extreme moment of unexpected happiness.