Timothy Snelgrove, left, and Paul Smith, right, cut the ribbon in honor of Snelgrove’s 100th anniversary.
Reminder Publishing photo by Keith O’Connor
ENFIELD — He doesn’t look 100 years old, but on Saturday, Aug. 17, Timothy Snelgrove invited the community to share in the 100th anniversary celebration of Snelgrove’s — Chocolatier and Florist.
“It was my grandfather who opened S.J. Snelgrove’s Florist back on Aug. 17, 1924, where I spent many hours as a kid learning about floral design,” Snelgrove said, noting the anniversary recognizes their beginnings as a flower store.
Deputy Mayor Marie Pyzmar of the town of Enfield attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon to deliver a proclamation from Mayor Ken Nelson, Jr. and the City Council in recognition of their milestone and “growth into a full chocolatier, florist, ice cream and wholesale operation.”
“At one time we had Crand’s Candy Castle right across the street from Snelgrove’s before the owner retired and closed his shop. For many years we didn’t have a candy store, and when we heard Snelgrove’s was coming to town, everyone was very excited. They have the best chocolates, beautiful flowers and gifts. Snelgrove’s is a great addition to our town … something we really needed,” she said.
Connie Provencher, director of membership and events for North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce agreed.
“I’m here today to celebrate Snelgrove’s anniversary and to support small businesses — mom and pop stores like theirs. Their product is unbelievable. We used to have a candy shop across the street, and now having Snelgrove’s feels like home again,” she said.
Other planned events on Saturday included a chocolate tasting, chocolate dipping demonstration, florist workshop and bow making demonstration.
“Owning your own business is a lot of work, but it’s a good fit for me,” said Snelgrove, who taught himself how to make chocolates before apprenticeships at Munson’s Chocolates and Burnham & Brady.
As a junior businessman from the age of 11-16, Snelgrove opened his first candy store out of his home selling to friends, family and neighbors. Seeking a change in his life, he turned to the jewelry industry and was a gemologist for several years. He eventually returned to the floral business selling flowers out of his home before opening Flowers by Timothy Snelgrove in 2000 in Poqonock.
“I realized I would need something more to draw customers into the shop, so I began making chocolates and fudge to sell in the store. People love chocolates, and so do I,” Snelgrove said, who has since earned the title of certified master chocolatier.
As chocolates became an integral part of the business, he changed the name to Snelgrove’s — Chocolatier and Florist, later finding a new home in Enfield.
The chocolate artisan uses Belgian chocolate, which many chocolatiers consider the finest in the world, to craft his handmade chocolates, beginning the process the old-fashioned way from copper kettles. Belgian chocolate has a higher cocoa content than most foreign products and contains 72% cocoa butter, which adds to the taste and texture of the finished chocolates. His chocolates are made with natural, high-quality ingredients with no artificial preservatives and their dark chocolates are also vegan.
Paul Smith, store manager for the past six months, was right beside Snelgrove during the ribbon cutting.
“My absolute favorites here at the store are the raspberry jelly bites and the cherry cordials,” Smith said, adding he wanted to try everything when he first joined the operation.
Smith, who comes from a retail management background, is working toward increasing their wholesale business.
“I’m going to be speaking with an area supermarket as well as some gifts shops and hospitals to learn what their response might be. We already make trolley-shaped pops for the Connecticut Trolley Museum and chocolate bars for the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport which they are using as gifts to clients,” he said.
It was Sandra O’Neill’s first visit to Snelgrove’s on Aug. 17.
“I live in Somers and didn’t know about Snelgrove’s until I saw something on Facebook about their 100th Anniversary Celebration. When I walked in the door it was beautiful. I bought chocolate fudge,” she said.
For Celeste Arvanitis, it was also her first visit to Snelgrove’s since moving to Enfield about one year ago.
“We have often driven by and said to ourselves that we needed to stop in one day. We learned that Snelgrove’s was having an anniversary celebration, and we were out in the car, so we decided to stop into the store on Saturday. They have wonderful chocolates, flowers and even homemade ice cream,” Arvanitis said.
She purchased amaretto meltaways and butter crunch.
“Butter crunch is my favorite and every year at Christmas my son sends me some from See’s Candies in San Francisco, who is famous for their butter crunch. I’m going to see how they compare, but Snelgrove’s already looks favorable,” Arvanitis said.
Snelgrove’s is at 1695 King St. in Enfield. Current summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.
For more information, or to order ahead of time, visit snelgroves.net or call 860-413-9042.
