Bites Nearby: Thompsonville Creamery, Enfield

It’s easy to feel like a kid in a candy store at Thompsonville Creamery, because, well, you are. Once you step inside the small High Street restaurant, you’re surrounded by sweets – containers of penny candy, a gumball machine and 16 vibrantly colored flavors of Hershey’s Ice Cream.

New owners Antwan and Melissa Wilson reopened the creamery in April. It’s the second entrepreneurial venture in town for Antwan, who also owns One Shot Photography on Pearl Street. The Wilsons were regular customers at the creamery back when it was owned by their friend Sean Gondarowski. They decided to buy the business when it came up for sale a second time earlier in 2011.

Though this is the Wilsons’ first restaurant venture, Melissa has a food-service background – she was one of the original hires at Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Elm Street, which opened in March 2010.

"It’s a learning experience," she said of owning Thompsonville Creamery. "But I used to work in the restaurant business, so I know the expectations and how to work things."

Thompsonville Creamery naturally does brisk business selling ice cream, especially on warm days, Wilson said. Single scoops are $2 and a double scoop is $3.50. Two-scoop sundaes, milkshakes and root beer floats are $4 and banana splits and brownie sundaes are $5. Italian ice in cherry and lemon flavors, also made by Hershey, is just 75 cents. Customers can choose from a list of 20 toppings, ranging from hot fudge to gummy worms.

Beyond treats, the restaurant’s small food menu of sandwiches and snacks was designed to be easy, quick and affordable, Melissa said. Grilled cheeses and hot dogs are just $2 while BLTs are $4 and a kielbasa sandwich costs $6. Top sellers include chicken tenders ($5 for 4, $7.50 for 8) and chicken wings ($5 for 6, $8 for 10.) For sides, there are regular, seasoned and sweet potato fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. The Creamery also uses barbecue sauces and hot mustards made by Larry McNeff of Grandpa’s Best, another Enfield entrepreneur.

The Wilsons are experimenting with other menu options and specials – every Friday night is "Spanish night," with $10 plates of rice, beans and meats like pork shoulder, ribs or chicken salad. When they first opened, they tested out soups, serving samples of recipes made by Antwan’s mother.

"To this day, people still ask for it," Melissa said, adding that the soups will return to the menu in the colder months.

Antwan, a Navy veteran and Army reservist, and Melissa moved to Thompsonville in November 2005 to be closer to her family. They have three children: Alex, 11; Aniel, 8; and Alissa, 5. Melissa said they’re happy to be part of efforts to revitalize the community.

"I’ve met a lot of great people that come and support the business," she said. "We wish that we can rebuild Thompsonville the way it used to be, years ago. It’s taking baby steps. Hopefully other people in the community see that they can do it as well, with their ideas and ambitions… so we can all get together and re-grow."

In the meantime, Melissa said, they’ve enjoyed being a family-owned, family-oriented business.

"To see the excitement when the kids get their ice cream, and see the big, bright colorful scoops… just to see their smiles, it’s rewarding for us," she said.

Thompsonville Creamery is at 40 High Street in Enfield. Phone number: 860-265-3233. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Weekend hours may be extended through the summer. Check out the restaurant's Facebook page for more information.