Hoffman's Chocolates closes flagship store, and buyers wanted for $30 million West Palm Beach mansions

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25-03-2025

Welcome to The Dirt! I'm real estate, weather and critter reporter Kimberly Miller with the latest developments in the sizzling market.
This is a public service announcement that it's spring, and you know what that means. It's not just the Easter bunny coming to town, it's the car carriers — those mechanical behemoths that descend on the Town of Palm Beach to ferry back north the Lambos and Landies driven all season to tennis, the club and/or Mr. B's (for those adventurers willing to cross over to Georgia Avenue on the mainland.)
And, as a friendly reminder, the fume spitting, ear splitting carriers are inhumanely restricted to loading at the south parking lot of Phipps Ocean Park, per Town of Palm Beach rules. I know, I know, RPP (Rich People Problems) but it's also a sign that we are nearing those carefree days of 90% humidity, Sleestak-size mosquitoes, and hurricanes. Love. Florida. ❤🌴❤
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In real estate news, we say goodbye to the flagship Hoffman's Chocolates store, $30 million waterfront homes in West Palm Beach are like wallflowers at the high school dance with no Jake Ryan or red Porsche to rescue them, and billionaire oracle Stephen Ross says the future looks bright (what tariff wars?)
Hoffman's Chocolates flagship store in Greenacres closed with little pomp and circumstance this month, ending decades of tradition, including its holiday winter wonderland where people could stroll through a festive light display without the pitfalls of chattering teeth, hot chocolate burns and runny noses that accompany such affairs in chillier climes.
What will happen to the iconic Tudor-style building? It may become a prep facility for Saito's Japanese Steakhouse. But somehow a flaming onion volcano just doesn't seem to fit the facility. Its exposed beams and pitched roofs are definitely more milk chocolate caramel truffles and après-ski than hibachi.
A handful of $30 million-plus waterfront homes are on the market in West Palm Beach and what more could a well-heeled buyer want than a mansion with a view and no Bentleys tailgating them to the middle-bridge where a barge will undoubtedly be crawling through so that the span is up for like three days.
Maybe we're on the downside of the Trump Bump (Trump Slump?) because the glittering new construction homes haven't hooked a buyer yet. The public is reminded, however, that just like with hurricanes, it only takes one, and a Cat 5 billionaire might be just around the corner.
Everyone can agree that Stephen Ross knows a thing or two about earning a living, so when he waves off worries about the economy, tariffs and the looming loss of the Thin Mint Frosty, people will probably listen. That's not to say there won't be some short-term instability, however. And Related Ross President Ken Himmel said corporate growth plans may be in question more this year than they were last year.
Still, overall, people continue to move to South Florida at a steady clip (874 per day through 2028) and they are always going to need healthcare and homes. And for most of us who already live here, we also need those things, just with a discount, or some kind of BOGO, or a combo deal that comes with biggie fries, nuggs and a free prize such as a $30 million waterfront mansion.
Live lightly.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to [e-mail]. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: $30 million West Palm Beach waterfront homes slow to sell