Godiva To Close All San Diego County Locations

© Darren McCollester/Getty Images Chocolatier Godiva became the latest victim of the pandemic, announcing plans to close its 128 North American stores

LOS ANGELES, CA — Chocolatier Godiva became the latest victim of the pandemic, announcing plans to close its 128 North American stores, including three locations in San Diego County.

The international chocolatier announced the move Sunday less than two years after initiating a major push to open 2000 cafes worldwide, Business Insider reported. However, the pandemic stymied those plans as customers shifted their dining habits to take-out and their shopping online.

Godiva will keep its brick-and-mortar locations open through Valentine's Day, the busiest time of the year for Godiva sales.

"Of course, this decision was difficult because of the care we have for our dedicated and hard-working chocolatiers who will be impacted," the company’s CEO Nurtac Afridi said in a written statement. "We have always been focused on what our consumers need and how they want to experience our brand, which is why we have made this decision."

Chocolate lovers will still be able to find their favorite Godiva treats online and at retail partners, the company announced.

The San Diego County locations slated for closure after Valentine's Day include:

• San Diego: Westfield UTC
• San Diego: Fashion Valley
• San Diego: Las Americas Premium Outlets

The company did not say how many employees will be impacted by the closures. The company plans to complete the closures by March, CNN reported.