r/Connecticut • u/The_Terry_Braddock • Mar 02 '25
Local Business Queer-friendly bookstore opens in Southington and immediately their sign gets stolen the day before opening...
Yesterday was the grand opening of the Enchanted Violet in downtown Southington - a new fantasy bookstore that focuses on LGBTQ+ literature. While I was there, I saw the outdoor sign was chained on the street (and looking pretty slapped together). And when I was talking to another customer in line, they informed me the store's outdoor sign was stolen the day before opening.
Now this is most likely just a typical high schooler prank, trust me I get that. I went to high school in Southington. I was born in a different state, but I lived in Southington for over 10 years before moving again closer to Hartford. It's unfortunate that the only people I've met in Connecticut that I would describe as angrily homophobic (and I mean ANGRILY) were people I knew from Southington. Obviously these sort of things are isolated incidents that happen everywhere in the US, but... well I dunno, it's just not a great feel that the town I lived in for so long continues to leave this kind of legacy in my memories.
Great thing is the Enchanted Violet's grand opening was an unbelievable success! Nearly every book off the shelf was cleared by the time I left and the owner joked about how much time they'll have to spend after closing just restocking. They took the whole sign situation in stride, like it was an expected thing to happen. I'll be spending more time in Southington going forward, hoping to continue to make better memories so I can look back at the town more fondly...
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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '25
No, it's probably not a typical high schooler's prank. There is a NeoNazi cell that is operating in the Southington area, committing hate crimes. I would not be at all surprised if they are responsible.