For over eighty years, Lee Sims Chocolates has held its place in the heart of Jersey City. The shop has seen the city’s neighborhoods, economy, and culture shift and swirl around it.
Greek immigrant George Sousane started Lee Sims back in the 1940s. He picked McGinley Square, and his family’s been running the place for four generations now.
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It’s not just about candy here. Lee Sims feels more like a living, breathing piece of Jersey City’s story.
A Family Legacy That Spans Generations
George learned his craft working for German chocolatiers before opening his little shop on Bergen Avenue. He mixed old-school skills with a dash of American flair.
By the 1950s, his daughter Catherine and her husband Nicholas Vlahakis were in charge. Catherine added style and warmth, while Nicholas’s big personality helped keep the shop buzzing even when competition heated up.
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
These days, George’s granddaughter Valerie Vlahakis runs the Jersey City store. Her sister Alison manages the Staten Island branch, with help from her own daughter.
This family handoff keeps the recipes and traditions alive. Longtime employees like Magda, Jackie, Sue, and Celie have each put in more than twenty years behind the counter, too.
Surviving Decades of Change in Jersey City
Lee Sims Chocolates has seen it all: the rise of suburban malls, civil rights protests, the Jersey City Uprising. Through every upheaval, it’s stayed steady, a familiar face on the block.
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Even Congressman Frank J. Guarini once made sure Lee Sims chocolates found their way to sailors on the S.S. New Jersey for Valentine’s Day. That’s a story people still love to tell.
Keeping the Flavor of Nostalgia Alive
Step inside today and nostalgia hits you right away. Customers keep coming back, chasing the taste of the handmade chocolates they remember from childhood.
People still talk about the old days, when you could watch the enrober machine in action. Production moved offsite in the 1970s, but the shop itself remains a holiday ritual for many, with lines out the door at Christmas and Easter.
The Sweet Science of Success
Valerie shrugs off any mystery about their staying power. She says it’s a mix of physics, chemistry, and just doing things right, year after year.
She jokes about retiring only if she’s “carried out dipped in caramel.” The building’s old and sometimes creaky, but her stubbornness has kept the doors open. That’s the kind of grit you need in Jersey City.
What Lee Sims Means for the Community
Lee Sims isn’t just another chocolate shop. It keeps a bit of Jersey City’s soul intact, even as the skyline and neighborhoods change around it.
Locals and visitors both find something real here. Maybe it’s the tradition, or maybe it’s just the chocolate, but it feels like home.
Visiting Lee Sims Chocolates in Jersey City
If you’re new in town or you’ve lived here forever, Lee Sims Chocolates deserves a spot on your list of things to do in Jersey City. You’ll find it in McGinley Square, where old-world charm meets today’s restaurants and shops.
The holidays are wild, honestly—there’s nothing like the line out the door when Christmas or Easter rolls around. If you’re after that classic Jersey City feeling, this is the place.
Making the Most of Your Trip
If you’re planning a visit and wondering where to stay in Jersey City, you’ll find plenty of Jersey City hotels for every taste and budget.
The shop’s easy to reach from major transportation hubs. Especially if you’re getting to Jersey City from New York City or Newark, you won’t have much trouble.
Its central location lets you check out other attractions nearby. Maybe explore a bit before or after you treat yourself to some artisanal chocolates.
In a city always changing, Lee Sims Chocolates feels like a steady, familiar presence. It’s got that family-run vibe and a sense of tradition you don’t see every day.
If you’re exploring Jersey City—maybe for the waterfront, a festival, or just to wander historic neighborhoods—this sweet landmark’s worth a stop. Why not add it to your itinerary?
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Here is the source article for this story: Behind Lee Sims Chocolates, a Jersey City Candy Shop That’s Been in Business for 80 Years
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