Overview:
A hidden wildlife center inside an Enfield strip mall is home to more than 100 rescued reptiles and amphibians. This feature explores how founder Brian Kleinman turned a lifelong passion for nature into Riverside Reptiles — and built a thriving education center against the odds.
A lifelong passion for wildlife turns a quiet Enfield storefront into a thriving reptile education center.
ENFIELD — At first glance, it is an unassuming strip mall near the northern Connecticut border. These shopping plazas are a familiar part of the American landscape, sitting just off busy highways. But step inside one particular storefront, and you are transported into another world. Gentle music plays over the sound of trickling water. Turtles and fish greet visitors as they enter.
More than 100 species call the space home, occupying 13,000 square feet indoors with an additional 4,000 square feet outdoors. From alligators to the European legless lizard, Riverside Reptiles offers an interactive experience with nature under the leadership of founder Brian Kleinman.
Presence News recently spoke with Kleinman to learn the story behind the center and its long road to survival.
Hidden Depths
Deep in the woodlands of northwestern Connecticut, Kleinman first discovered his love of wildlife.
“I’m Gen X,” Kleinman explained in an interview on January 16. “I grew up in the 80s and 90s.”
Kleinman and his family lived in Barkhamsted, a small town tucked among the hills of Litchfield County. “I would disappear until dinner and hang out in the state forest,” he told Presence News.
He spent summers at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, where he learned about native wildlife and environmental care. From age 15 until graduating from college, Kleinman worked at the center. Its director invested in him, helping shape his desire to work with animals.
Eventually, Kleinman earned a biology degree from Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. He later found work at the Science Center of Connecticut, then located in Hartford. From 1999 to 2002, he arranged exhibits and worked primarily with taxidermied animals. He also traveled to Costa Rica and participated in endangered sea turtle conservation efforts in Georgia.
The Clearing
Crossroads often appear when least expected. In 2003, Kleinman left the Science Center and decided to strike out on his own.
“I was tired of working for someone else,” he said.
Along with his wife, he launched the idea of a reptile education program. The couple lived in a two-bedroom apartment, with one room serving as the first classroom. An alligator — affectionately named Brenda after Kleinman’s mother — lived in the basement, while venomous snakes were kept safely in a locked room.
The goal was to save money for a proper facility while still offering educational programs. From the apartment, Kleinman delivered more than 250 presentations. As the number of animals grew, so did the need for a permanent home.
By 2019, after years of searching, Kleinman found a vacant shopping plaza with the right amount of space and parking. Everything was set for a grand opening in June 2020.
Then the pandemic arrived.
Overcoming
“We survived,” Kleinman said.
Riverside Reptiles, like many small businesses, also saw unprecedented uncertainty in the COVID-19 pandemic. It remained cash-strapped, and there were still enclosures to be built. Moving the pets to their new home took a long time.
“It was rough,” Kleinman recalled.
The first-stage project involved the construction of Turtle Terrace, designed for larger tortoises and turtles. Slowly but surely, the projects progressed, and the animals were moved. By October 2020, Riverside Reptiles finally opened its doors to the public.
“Follow your passion,” Kleinman said. He acknowledged that careers in wildlife biology and animal care can be isolating at times, but the rewards outweigh the risks.
Today, 10 employees work at Riverside Reptiles, each bringing unique skills to the operation. Kleinman says managing the business side of the center remains challenging — but worthwhile.
Exploring Ahead
As the center enters its sixth year of operation, Kleinman continues to look forward. From business management and advertising to daily animal care, no two days are the same.
Most of the center’s animals were surrendered or rescued. They do not spend all their time behind plexiglass — volunteers regularly “walk” giant tortoises, and supervised handling programs allow visitors to interact with certain species. Kleinman’s goal is to make nature accessible while enriching the lives of the animals in his care.
A few escape attempts have occurred over the years, but none have endangered the public or the animals’ well-being.
Kleinman hopes to foster appreciation for creatures often misunderstood or feared.
“Come and check us out,” he said. “Give it a chance.”
Go to their website: Here
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on an in-person interview with Riverside Reptiles founder Brian Kleinman conducted on January 16. Additional background information was provided by the subject. Presence News has not independently verified all historical details of the center’s early development.
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