The Best Chocolate in Town, a popular chocolate shop on Mass Ave., has shut its doors, but fans will still find their signature truffles and sweets at other local stores.

Elizabeth Garber announced on Facebook Sunday that she has closed her retail store and is selling the recipes and the rest of the business she founded 21 years ago to Carrie Abbott, another candy entrepreneur from Indianapolis.

Abbott, founder of Newfangled Confections, worked as an intern at Garber's shop when she was studying culinary arts at Ivy Tech 12 years ago.

"There is no one better suited to carry on the name,” Garber said in a statement emailed to IndyStar. "Carrie and I share the same values, and the same passion for chocolates and confections."

Abbott said she's happy to continue making The Best Chocolate in Town's signature candies and will be distributing them through the retail locations that already work with her.

Abbott is the creator of Frittle, a fudge-peanut brittle treat that she sells at shops in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

"I'm really just trying to double down on local," Abbott told IndyStar Monday in a telephone interview.

"The shop has closed, but the corporate and the wholesale business has just exploded."

Abbott said she's hired Garber's candy makers and intends to keep selling The Best Chocolate In Town's sweets through a network of shops within 100 miles of Indianapolis.

"We want to bring the (Best Chocolate in Town) retail shop to your closest retailer," Abbott said.

Garber and Abbott said they will work together to continue serving chocolate pecan turtles, fancy truffles, dipped pretzels and more at stores where Abbott already sells her sweets, including Goose the Market and Homespun: Modern Handmade.

"New beginnings are always bittersweet," Garber said on Facebook. "I am profoundly grateful for all your support, and for the opportunity to serve you the best chocolates, truffle pies, cookies, and desserts in town. I hope I helped make your lives a little sweeter. You certainly did as much for me."

Contact IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at 317-444-2701 or vic.ryckaert@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.