Family Jewelry Business Moves Enfield Store To Higher-Profile Location

ENFIELD, CT — For more than three decades, Suite 14 in the Hazard Trade Mart at 151 Hazard Avenue belonged to Music Outlet. An institution in town since its inception in the old Enfield Outlet Mall over 40 years ago, the store was renowned for carrying hard-to-find items, including imports and out-of-print releases.

In Aug. 2023, owner Gary Cabot announced his intention to retire, and did so earlier this year. The spot on the northeastern leg of the plaza did not remain vacant for long, however, as another long-tenured family-owned business has moved across town.

Smith & Son Jewelers, founded in Springfield in 1918, opened a second location in 2020 in the Shaker Pines Plaza on North Maple Street. A few weeks ago, the store closed and moved into the former record shop site.

The proliferation of businesses in the Trade Mart makes it a much higher-profile location than the one by the lake. The former setup meant the jewelry store was only directly visible to eastbound travelers.

"They had to really know we were there to find us," partner Tom Cardano told Patch. "We loved the people in the Shaker Pines neighborhood, but from a business standpoint, this is a much better spot."

Fred Kalman immigrated from Latvia in the early 1900s, and in 1918, opened Kalman's Jewelry Store on Main Street in Springfield. Kalman and Sam Smith went into business together, but split in 1959 when Smith came to the "X" – an area in the Forest Park section of the city where Sumner and Belmont avenues intersect with Dickinson Street.

Sam Smith closed the store for a stretch, then re-opened it in 1964, joined by his son Fred, who became an expert watchmaker and eventually business owner. Fred's son, Andrew, trained to be a professional jeweler,

Andrew, Fred’s son, went to Boston for professional training as a jeweler, and is now a designer as well. About 16 years ago, Cardano began an apprenticeship under Andrew Smith.

The store carries fine jewelry at affordable prices, and also provides services such as jewelry repair, watch repair, engraving, restringing and appraisals for insurance purposes. All repairs are done in-house, rather than being shipped elsewhere.

The new location has already proven beneficial for the shop, with several customers saying they were coming out of nearby LuLu's Restaurant and saw the sign.

"Everyone has been so welcoming, we're very fortunate and happy," Cardano said.

The Enfield store is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Thursdays and Sundays.

The store may be reached at 860-763-4653, or online at www.smithandsonjewelers.com.