Love is in the air—and so is the rich aroma of chocolate—at Malley’s Chocolates, where Valentine’s Day preparations are coming to a close for the 2025 season. As one of Northeast Ohio’s most well-known chocolatiers marks its 90th anniversary this year, the team celebrates nearly a century of heart-shaped boxes, hand-dipped confections, and plenty of sweet surprises.

Opened by Albert “Mike” Malley and his wife Jo in a small retail space in Lakewood in 1935. The Malley family business has become a household name in Northeast Ohio as he company has grown and thrived.

“For 90 years, Malley’s has been a part of Cleveland’s sweetest love stories,” says Mike Malley, president and CEO of Malley’s Chocolates. “Valentine’s Day and chocolate go hand in hand, and we’re proud to continue our family tradition of crafting beautifully packaged assortments, heart-shaped treats, and, of course, our hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries and grapes. It’s an honor to help generations of customers celebrate love in the most delicious way possible.”

Malley's Chocolate Covered StrawberriesAnd delicious it will be—Malley’s produced between 25,000 and 30,000 of their famous Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for the holiday, along with an ever-growing fan-favorite, Chocolate-Covered Grapes.

“Sometimes weird combinations strike people differently,” Malley says. “They’re good.”

He says the chocolate covered strawberries are consistently the favorite Valentine's choice, the classic heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates have been Malley's staples for the company's entire 90-year history.

Beyond the chocolate-dipped fruits, the store shelves are brimming with options. “We have all kinds of the classics,” Malley says, from the signature Valentine velvet gift box hearts to the gold cup assortment, as well as the ever-popular hot fudge and pretzel duo.

For younger chocolate lovers—or just the young at heart—there’s the Valentine survival kit, a playful lunch pail filled with themed goodies, and smaller heart boxes with fun messages like ‘B Mine.’

Malley’s isn’t just about selling sweets—it’s about creating lasting memories. “We’re in the business of selling memories and happiness,” Malley explains. “People come in to buy candy—whether it’s strawberries or a candy bar—and they’re generally in a good mood. Whether they’re buying it for themselves or as a gift, it’s always a positive.”

With seasonal customer traffic spiking today, Malley describes Valentine’s Day as the chocolate industry’s Super Bowl. “Christmas and Easter are still our biggest holidays, but Valentine's gives them a run for their money.”

And when it’s all over, Malley will take a moment to catch his breath before diving headfirst into Easter preparations. “I don’t really recognize how tired I am,” he says with a laugh, “until like a week or two later and I’ll be like, ‘God, why am I so tired?’”

So, what does the man behind Cleveland’s chocolate empire gift his sweetheart?

“Plenty of chocolate covered strawberries and fresh flowers—12 red long-stem roses,” he says.

As Malley’s Chocolates celebrates 90 years of helping Northeast Ohio express their love in the sweetest way possible, one thing remains clear to Mike Malley—nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a box of Malley’s.