A Fond Farewell to Chocolate Lover Inc.
For many years, tucked along the bustling streets of Cubao, stood a castle not ruled by kings or queens but by entrepreneurs and dreamers. Chocolate Lover Inc., with its brown exterior, turreted structure, and quiet storybook charm, became a go-to place for thousands looking to develop their kitchen projects– from simple ideas to more ambitious ventures.
On December 27, the beloved castle will regretfully close its doors. In an emotional video message, founder Annie Carmona-Lim, known as the “Chocolate Queen,” announced the news she had held back for three years.
“Baby ko kasi ito,” she said, teary-eyed. Anyone who ever stepped inside her castle understood that immediately.
Chocolate Lover Inc. founder Annie Carmona-Lim
Lim’s children, now settled abroad, no longer wish to continue the business. And she, a grandmother who has weathered long days and holiday rushes, has decided it’s time to rest. “Mag-aalaga na lang po ako ng apo,” she said.
Chocolate Lover Inc. began in 1989, when Lim opened a small baking supplies store with P6,000 after recovering from cancer. Through the 1990s, the store grew by word of mouth among home bakers and students who relied on it for chocolate, basic ingredients, and hard-to-find pans and molds.
In the 2000s and 2010s, it expanded its inventory, offered classes and workshops, and became both a retail hub and a training space for small entrepreneurs. Its castle-like building on P. Tuazon eventually became a familiar Cubao landmark.
By the 2020s, the store remained a fixture among generations of bakers, until Lim’s recent announcement about its closure.
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The Chocolate Lovers Inc. Facebook page was flooded with nostalgic messages from patrons and chocolate lovers of all ages. One netizen wrote, “Maraming maraming salamat Teacher Annie! I’m one of your students po way back 1998. Sa Chocolate Lover ko po binili lahat ng baking equipment namin. Your baking and éclair recipes have helped my 20-year-old catering business. Until now I still use your recipes. Napakalaking tulong nyo sa aming business.”
Another Facebook user posted, “Mam Annie, kuha na lang po kayo ng taong magma-manage po. At least nandyan pa rin po negosyo nyo. Nalulungkot po ako kasi store nyo lagi ko pinupuntahan kapag kailangan ko sa paggawa ng cake.”
Another netizen added, “From Oton Iloilo, pumunta ako diyan just to buy some of my baking needs. Sad to hear you are closing. Thank you Chocolate Lovers Inc. for inspiring me and for becoming a part of my business. 36 long years is not bad. Goodbye is not forever. God bless.”
When the lights dim for the last time at Chocolate Lover Inc., the castle won’t disappear. Its magic will live on in every cake made with its recipes, every treat crafted by its students, and every small baking business inspired by its legacy.
