Picture Enfield - Then And Now

ENFIELD, CT — For today's edition of this periodic historic series, we delve into the pages of a magnificent photo book entitled Enfield: 1950-1980. It is a collection of pictures taken during those three decades by a renowned Enfield photographer, the late Ed Malley, and compiled by his son Jim.

In this picture, we are provided a 1960s view of the former Food Mart supermarket. Located at the west end of the Elm Street Plaza, Food Mart was one of the most-visited businesses in town, existing prior to the proliferation of supermarket superstores. The store’s facade advertised another relic of a bygone era: S&H Green Stamps.

The market operated for many years as Waldbaum’s Food Mart before closing in 2003. That portion of the plaza was demolished in 2005 to make way for a Best Buy electronics store.

Best Buy closed in 2021, and a year later, Ocean State Job Lot purchased the entire plaza. In Sept. 2022, Ocean State moved from its longtime home in the Enfield Commons plaza into the former Best Buy space.

Here is a more contemporary look at the building.

Do you own a non-copyrighted photo of a former Enfield business or landmark? Email it to tim.jensen@patch.com and we may feature it in an upcoming column.