Lore’s Chocolates

The one thing I miss about working downtown. Great candy, helpful staff and the next-​door coffee shop is terrific too.

I had a not so good experience today in Lore’s Coffee Shoppe. I went to get a muffin this morning on my way into work. Prior to walking into the store I needed to talk with my doctor’s office and was still on the phone when I walked up to the counter. I was actually doing more listening than talking. I go into Lore’s often and I’m not usually on the phone but this was important. I ordered my muffin and «Rachel» gave me much attitude. I ignored it. She rolled her eyes at me and made sounds. I tried to ignore it but it continued. I asked for my receipt and she tossed it to me. She says she didn’t but it wasn’t handed to me. I couldn’t ignore it any longer so I asked was there a problem. She proceeded to says that I was in the phone and being rude. I said not that it was any of her business but I was in with my doctor and she again told me with much attitude that I was rude to be on the phone. There’s no posting policy in the Shoppe regarding telephone use. I wasn’t loud nor rude. I was mainly listening and/​or on hold. I didn’t intentionally intend to be rude but «Rachel» definitely did. There was a customer at the register when she decided to «go off» on me. At this point I wanted to return my purchase. The proper thing to do if she felt I was annoying other customers that actually weren’t in the Shoppe would be to ask me politely to take my call outside simply let me know that I was disturbing customers. Again, the Shoppe does not have a posted policy. I will never go back in Lore’s again. I’ve been going there for at least 8 months, spending my money, patronizing this establishment that really has a long good standing reputation. Today, it was marred with my horrible experience this morning. I called and reported the incident. The owner wasn’t available and was supposed to call me back but I’ve not received a response as of yet. The person I spoke with earlier was very apologetic and very understanding but unfortunately what’s done is done. «Rachel» isn’t usually out going or personable but that was ok but today she was rude and disrespectful and that isn’t ok. I want to point out that there is usually another person in there with her and I suspect if that person was there, she wouldn’t have acted in this manner. Lesson learned. Customer service was definitely forgotten today.

I didn’t think I could love Lore’s chocolate any more than I do but because of awesome individuals like Maureen and Tony, I do.
I tried sending my mother who is enduring chemotherapy some toffee but had problems with their online ordering system. Lore’s was closed since it was the day after Easter but Tony responded to my email and Maureen called me the next day and took care of the problem with the utmost courtesy and compassion. I can’t thank them enough for the great care with which they handled the situation.
Thank you from a customer for life!

I have been made the trip every Christmas and Easter for over 30 years. My kids are grown now but they still enjoy Lore’s as part of the holiday tradition.

Excellent chocolate. The people that work here are so nice. Extremely helpful and generous with their time. It’s a little hard walking around the floor but that’s because there is so much chocolate everywhere!

I am very impressed with how much choclate this little shop holds. There are all types of choclate; the more I looked the more I wanted to buy. They even have choclate Liberty Bells and Sunflower pops.
I checked in Unilocal to get a free candy bar but they told me they don’t do that any more but allow you to pick 4 pieces of choclate from any of the tables. Boy was it hard to pick four! So many variations of choclate candy… a true Unilocal treat indeed better than I imagine a candy bar would be.
We purchased ½ pound of chocolates (17 pieces) for $ 13 something. Everything was delicious.

This place is a treasure. I used to work across the street and would go buy my piece of chocolate for the day. I even had the chance to visit their factory, and I was very impressed by the traditional way they still operate.
The store is always very clean and there is a lot of choices, from chocolate to candy, they make it all.
If you live in Philly, this should be your go to place for gifts, They’ve in business for years and believe me, there is no stale taste to this great chocolate.
They even make some sugar free.
Go try it.

Absolutely hands-​down the best chocolate store in Philadelphia. I’ve been buying chocolates for Easter and other special occasions here for years. I especially recommend their chocolate covered pretzels — my go-​to last minute gift. And if you go during the week, check out their café next door for a quick pick-​me-​up.

After tasting almost all of the assorted dark chocolates in my half-​pound box, two of the «fancy» truffles, and dark chocolate rum cordials, I have concluded that Lore’s chocolates are often too sweet for me even though everything I tasted except for a truffle was all dark. The assorted bonbons are hit-​or-​miss for me. Below is what I would rate them on a scale from 0 (inedible) to 5 (exceptional):
Dark cashew caramel: 4
Dark with chocolate buttercream: 2.5
Dark with vanilla buttercream: 2.5
Dark with raspberry jelly: 3
Dark with raisin: 2 (too much chocolate)
Dark with molasses: 4
Figaro (hazelnut chocolate): 2.5
Dark cherry cordial: 2
Dark chewy caramel with flour de sel: 2.5
Dark truffle with dark chocolate drizzle (dark chocolate ganache): 4
Milk truffle with white chocolate drizzle (coffee ganache): 4.5
Dark chocolate rum cordials: 3
Regardless of pricing, I would say Lore’s chocolates are 3 stars out of 5. However, taking into account that they’re way more affordable than other parlors (ehm… Teuscher), the chocolates are 3.5÷5.
Presentation-​wise, Lore’s chocolates are somewhat sloppy. Since I make chocolates as a hobby, I am very serious when it comes to chocolates. One of my pet peeves is chocolates with cavities, and Lore’s sells many of them. Yes, it takes a lot more time if you try to get rid of each air bubble from the chocolate, but that’s what distinguishes different brands of chocolates in my opinion – the quality control.
While Lore’s chocolates only deserve three stars, the friendly service boosted my rating to four stars. The lady who helped me box my bonbons was patient. When she didn’t have answers to my questions regarding specific chocolates, she told me honestly that she had never tried them and would ask her colleagues if they knew more about the chocolates. She was also eager to help other customers who just walked in.
Because I checked in on my Unilocal mobile app, I received a free chocolate bar. Free things are awesome, so that’s another reason to like Lore’s.
In summary, if you’re not too picky about chocolates and want something affordable, Lore’s is a great place to go. I definitely will come back to try some Irish potatoes and Easter-​themed chocolates!

The chocolates are delicious, the truffles decadent, the staff courteous, and the prices remarkably reasonable. Don’t miss Lore’s if you’re in Philadelphia!

I got to say that they offer the best chocolate ever, or at least one that I’ve ever had in a very long time. Their little set up is actually really cute and I think one that’s worth the effort if you like chocolates. I really liked the one I tried — it was very crunchy and delicious. They also have a free chocolate bar to go if you use Unilocal.Who would pass up on that?! :)

This smallish store is packed with chocolate in a ridiculous array of creative forms. They were gearing up for Easter when I visited, so the shop was filled with chocolate in rabbit and egg shapes and a range of pastel colors. Among the creative items I saw were amazingly worked, hollow, egg-​shaped «dioramas» made of sugar, which had an open end showing a small sugar chick in a nest inside. There were also many chocolates, jellybeans, and general candy that were worked to look like vegetables, which were fun. The staff is warm, cheery, and helpful. The prices aren’t too bad. And most importantly, the chocolate and sugar creations definitely taste as good as they look!

Cute little old timey shop with pretty good chocolate, the staff was helpful and attentive. Overall good experience.

I am ashamed to the bottom of my lack of apparent chocolate knowledge. Not knowing this place is unheardof. It is not a tourist trap though it pretends to be. think back in the day, not pretenders. It’s what old chocolate shops were like – sans AC.
Don’t pass up one of my now favorite shops in the city. Get chocolate. Then go next door for their own coffee. Nice. Cherries and mints and honeycomb all are exceptional.
THE BEST DAAARRRKKKK CHOCOLATE CHERRIES ON THE PLANET. Don’t be surprised if 1, yes 1, cost $ 1. It’s worth every sticky finger. Only marriage is better (not so sticky.)

Really good buttercreams. Some of the other stuff is hit-​or-​miss. They always have chocolates out for sampling and lots to offer around certain holidays (like Irish potatoes for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter eggs galore in the spring. Sometimes the Saturday hours can be a bit funky in the summer as it seems that they are often closed during warmer weather.

This is my go to place for chocolates for over 25 years, the staff has been around for longer than that. Enjoyed the free chocolate bar when I checked in, but they always have some free samples to enjoy. The small shop can get crowded during the holidays so get there early to avoid a long wait.

Hey hey,
This is one of a few chocolate shops that I really like. The chocolate is amazing, the ladies there are extremely helpful. And guess what? If you are late for Vday, come and send chocolate for your loved ones. They provide domestic shipping and trust me, the weather allows the chocolate to stay alive!

Lore’s is the coolest chocolate shop I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in the last 100 years. You see, my friends, I have a particular affinity for the good old days… when chocolates were made in house and displayed on large tables under glass plates… when chocolate shop owners were so personable such that you might confuse them with your own grandparents… when non-​pareils were the norm.
And the chocolate from Lore’s just sort of melts… in your mouth… in your hands… on your carpet… but you see, it doesn’t matter, because everything from this beautiful store that harkens back to the days of the soda fountain jerk, Fireside Chats, and Howie Cossell, is absolutely wonderful.
If you’re feeling sophisticated, try a box of the European collection, or one of the many rum or liquor filled concoctions. If you’re feeling playful, go ahead and purchase that Triceratops milk chocolate dinosaur, and win the love of any man (or boy) in your life. If you’re feeling nutty, the loaded milks, darks and whites with almonds, pecans, walnuts, fruits, or whatever else will please.

First off, let me qualify how I came to this score. The chocolates are great (4*) but the service during my two visits has been atrocious and means that I will never be back to Lore’s.
I know that I am not a precious snowflake, that I am not the most important person on the face of the planet, but I like to feel good about purchases that I make. I came to Lore’s the first time to pick up a gift certificate somebody had bought for me. Happy right? Wrong. I showed up an hour before they were supposed to close and found the door locked tight. I peered in and they let me in, but man were they not happy about it. I left with my gift certificate and my tail firmly between my legs.
Today, after recovering from the first experience I went back to spend my gift certificate. The same older woman who «helped» me the last time was there again and gave me the same sort of experience. I heard her chew out other customers while I was looking around. When it was my turn everything I did was wrong. I gave her the chocolates and then the gift certificate (2 seconds later) and was told that I had done something wrong and had to give her the certificate earlier. When? When I came in? Then she treated me like a criminal because there was an issue with a signature or something. I don’t know why she thought I had faked a certificate but it turned what should have been a good experience into something awful.
I want to like this place. The product is good, the business is local and it is near where I live. But I just won’t be back after my two terrible visits.

This quaint little chocolate shop is a must-​see. They have everything you can imagine chocolate-​wise, the staff goes out of their way to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for, and the prices can’t be beat.
I went in for Irish potatoes, something they only make from Jan-​March– last serving is on St. Patrick’s Day, so get them while you can!
When I checked in, I got a free choc-​to-​go bar (available in milk, dark, or white)!