Nibble On Tiny Golden Hedgehogs At New Park Slope Chocolate Shop

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Life-like hedgehogs and golden wrenches forged in chocolate from a new shop on Fifth Avenue might look too good to eat at first — but customers may soon find they're too good not to eat, too, owners told Patch.

"It is interesting. People always say they are not going to eat it," co-owner Sergei Potekhin said of the intricate figurines. "But, in a couple of days they tell us, 'We ate it, we started to eat it — and the chocolate is really good.'"

Potekhin is one half of the husband-and-wife duo who moved to New York from their native Russia to open the new shop at 537 Fifth Ave., named "Not Just Chocolate NYC" for its vast array of chocolatey items that diverge from the usual bar or candy-shaped morsel.

So far, the pair have only been gifting the animal figurines, postcards and other unique chocolate treats to their friends, but come Saturday, the whole neighborhood can get a taste of the "souvenirs."

"Not Just Chocolate NYC" will officially open its storefront this weekend, offering both the more intricate pieces and traditional treats to their new neighbors.

"We are not just chocolate, but still chocolate," Potekhin said. "The first part are these animals, dolls, postcards and souvenirs — if you want to make a gift original and exclusive you can get it from us. But we of course do regular chocolate."

The shop will be the couple's second chocolate business, their first in New York, after running a similar one in Russia since 2008. Sergei Potekhin handles the administrative side of the business while his wife, Helen, is the trained chocolatier.

The pair originally thought they'd open in Manhattan when moving to New York, but soon found Park Slope to be the right fit. Their friend, who runs a fashion design studio on Sixth Avenue, got them interested in what Brooklyn had to offer, Sergei said.

"They advised us to pay more attention to Park Slope and after we explored the area, we found that this is a very, very nice neighborhood," he said.

The chocolate shop will also offer cappuccinos, lattes and coffee, Sergei added. The first few months will even include a giveaway of small chocolate bars, featuring a new design each day, with each cup of coffee bought from 7 to 10 am. on weekdays.

When asked if those collector's item chocolate bars are for saving or for eating, Sergei exclaimed "of course they should eat it," with a laugh.

"We designed the collection to make them feel good and happy in the beginning of their day," he said. "...With good chocolate, good coffee and a good attitude."