A chocolatier that’s been around since the 1600s is now expanding in Florida
A chocolatier founded in the 1600s and once named the confectioner of the French empire has expanded in Florida.
Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, which has a location in Palm Beach and is planning another one in Boca Raton, just opened in a sprawling shopping complex off Interstate 75 on the state’s Gulf Coast. Bissinger’s is on the first floor of The Mall at University Town Center, on the Bradenton and Sarasota border.
What will you find there?
European truffles, caramels, chocolate-covered fruits, nuts, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Bear Claws Royale and seasonal collections.
The company’s roots span nearly 360 years. Bissinger’s started in Paris in 1668.
Bissinger’s was named the Confiseur Imperial, meaning Confectioner to the French Empire. By 1845, Karl Bissinger brought the family recipes to the United States, according to company history.
Notable historical figures to enjoy Bissinger chocolates include Napoleon Bonaparte, former U.S. presidents and the Rothschild family, according to company history.
In 2025, Bissinger’s expanded by opening retail boutiques. Bissinger’s has retail boutiques in seven states, including three locations in Florida. The Florida locations include the UTC Mall, Tampa and Palm Beach, with Boca on the way.
The UTC store is open daily. On Mondays through Thursdays, Bissinger’s is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store’s hours on Fridays and Saturdays are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit www.Bissingers.com.
