Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

ENFIELD, CT — This week's venture to a hidden gem in north-central Connecticut takes us to the final day of a storefront in the North Thompsonville section of Enfield, to a business which continues to thrive yet is modernizing by shifting to online orders only.

Awards & More, which had its origins more than four decades ago as Schaefer Printing, has been owned and operated by Dick Schaefer since day one. It is a family business, however, and with its founder's retirement, his daughter Becky Vesce has acquired the business with intentions of continuing the steady growth it has experienced over the last 30-plus years.

From its humble beginnings, Awards & More has expanded from Schaefer's house to Palomba Drive to 740 Enfield Street, and in 2005, he purchased the building at 492 Enfield Street. That storefront, showcasing many of the gift and recognition items available to customers, had its final day Friday, as Vesce is continuing the business online at www.awards-more.com.

"With the changing times now, we're taking it from a brick and mortar building to online, and expect to grow even more," Schaefer said.

Vesce became actively interested in the family business when she was around eight, and engraved her first plaque - a birthday gift to her dad - at age 12.

"She's the only one of my kids who really took an active interest in it, and it can't be in better hands," Schaefer said.

Vesce said despite no longer having the storefront, customers can count on the fact that each item is personally worked on by the staff, rather than being farmed out as many other award businesses do.

"We are still the ones doing the work; your engraving is being done by our hands," she said.

She said all the years of being around her family's business have left her well prepared to taking on the challenges of ownership.

"It's been an honor to learn from somebody who teaches you how to grow and build and maintain a business," she said. "To have that be your dad is really super special. I'm happy to follow in his footsteps."

____

The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant