Hartford Prints! — Local services in Hartford

This storefront for a Hartford-based letterpress shop makes a walk down one-block Pratt Street in the center of downtown worth the trip. Founded by a trio of sisters, the press turns out original designs on cards and other stationery, as well as T-shirts, gifts, and a few art prints.

Anyone who loves the old-school look of hand-printed work and the feel of the words and images pressed into fine paper with substance will enjoy browsing in this cheery shop with shiny hardwood floor. It's just the place for times when you want a thank-you card that will make the recipient feel like posting it as a little work of art. Or an invitation that promises a truly special event. Or a note card that feels weighty in the hand. Many items feature Hartford-booster designs, such as cards with line drawings of icons of the Hartford skyline (yes, they exist) and wearables printed with the Little State, Big Heart slogan.

Hand printing is labor intensive, and it takes skilled people to set type by hand and run an antique letterpress. Fine paper is costly, too. Therefore expect sticker shock if you're accustomed to greeting cards from the local drugstore chain. But if you want to snail-mail something memorable, head directly to Hartford Prints!

Plus you can't beat the personalized and pleasant service. After I bought thank-you notes that came with eye-catching dark blue envelopes, I realized I had no pens with ink that would show up well on them. The staff immediately offered me the use of the shop's metallic silver Sharpie and invited me to take a seat at the bright turquoise schoolkid's desk in the back corner to address them. (Maybe by now the shop sells high-contrast pens for those dark envelopes.)

Located just a block and a half inland from the Constitution Plaza and all of its bus stops. And a block and a half on the other side from the Trumbull Street Starbucks and...

This was the first local shop we checked out while we were here in October scoping out the Hartford area for our move from Texas. And this store is honestly part of the reason we fell in love with Hartford! It felt so cozy in the store and everything was so well organized. There was such an amazing variety of things for sale here. This is a great store to shop for any kind of gifts you’re getting for someone because there’s something for everyone here. I really appreciated how openly inclusive the store was about many different marginalized groups. Knowing a business puts awareness and inclusivity above potential profit is a huge sense of comfort for me as an LGBTQ+ and disabled consumer! This was the first store we went to once we officially got back here for our move to CT and I know we will be here regularly now that...

I was shopping their selection online when I came across an item I wanted, only to find that it was out of stock in my size. I decided that it couldn't hurt to inquire about when they'd restock it. The very next business day they re-checked their inventory, found what I wanted, set it aside just for me and let me know that I could make my purchase whenever I wanted (which I very promptly did). So in short - great customer service, and if my sweatshirt is any indicator, their wares are top-notch quality (not to mention all locally-produced). I can't wait to visit their Pratt Street location in Hartford the first chance...