Longtime Enfield Business Closing at Month's End

ENFIELD, CT — After more than six decades of service to the Enfield community, a beloved family business will be shutting its doors at the end of August.

Leland R. Hawthorne and Son, commonly known as Hawthorne's Agway, announced on its Facebook page it will be closing the store at 97 North Maple Street, effective Aug. 31.

The business carries a wide variety of lawn and garden products, including fertilizers, weed killers and insect controls, as well as pet foods and supplies. It is also one of the primary sources for propane tanks in town.

"We have had quite a few questions about whether we were closing over the past few months and we were unable to give any answers because we were still unsure ourselves," store manager Melissa Haughn wrote on Facebook. "We finally received a definite answer this Thursday. Unfortunately it's not good news. I'm sorry to say that after 50 plus years Hawthorne's Agway will be closing its doors for good at the end of August. I personally have had the pleasure of working here for the past 26 years and loved every minute of being able to help our customers from Enfield and surrounding towns and will miss you."

Numerous customers expressed their sorrow and dismay about the imminent closure on the page.

• "Sad to hear the news. Your place was awesome." - Ray Gwozdz
• "So sad.....I will definitely miss your store." - Jacoba Bauckman
• "Thanks for many years of a great service!" - Andrew Provencher
• "Very sad! We always buy our products there and the staff was always helpful!!" - Mary Senatore
• "You will never find better service and a more friendly staff that you'll find at Hawthorne's Agway." - Chris Basile
• "They used to have stick candy by where my dad paid and always let me have one!" - Kim Dickson

From now until its final day, the store is offering a 30 percent discount on all merchandise, excluding propane. A discount coupon for propane is available on the store's web site.

Enfield land records indicate the property was sold Friday for $950,000 to a limited liability company owned by Winstanley Enterprises of Concord, Mass. In January 2017, Winstanley also purchased the former LEGO warehouse and other commercial properties on Print Shop, Taylor and Shaker roads in Enfield, investing nearly $77 million, as well as the former Hallmark property on Bacon Road for $12.5 million in 2016.

Photo credit: Google Maps