BERNE — The Berne Food Store’s doors have barely been closed a few weeks and already new owners have taken over and opened for business.

Though the sign still says Berne Food Store, that will change. The new name is the Helderberg Country Cafe. Its owners say locals are happy to come back.
"Business is very steady. Everyone is thrilled," said Brian Larsen, who, with his wife, Deborah, owns the store.

The Larsens are Hilltown natives. Mr. Larsen grew up in Berne, and Mrs. Larsen in Westerlo. They had been living in Massachusetts, but when Mr. Larsen was laid off his job of over 25 years, the couple decided to return to New York and try their luck as small-town grocers and restaurateurs.
"I was kind of looking for a new career, a new start," Mr. Larsen said.

Though neither of them has owned a business before, Mrs. Larsen has years of experience in food service. She has been everything from a waitress to a cook, her husband said.

The Larsens plan to live in an apartment over the cafe.

Like the Food Store, the Country Cafe is serving double duty as a grocery store and a restaurant.
"It’s the only store in town, so it’s very much needed," Larsen said.
Shoppers and diners aren’t going to find much difference between the Berne Food Store and the Helderberg Country Cafe; most of the changes are "behind the scenes," Larsen said, like updating old equipment.
"The menu hasn’t changed too much officially," he said, "but we have lot of different specials we’re going to do."

The biggest difference, Larsen said, is soon the cafe will start serving pizza. The Larsens have installed a commercial pizza oven, and will have it up and running by next week.
"Everyone is really excited about that," Larsen said. "Every phone call we get is, ‘Have you got the pizza going yet"’"

The Helderberg Country Cafe, on Route 443 in Berne, is open for shopping, deli service, eat-in, and take-out, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 7 a.m to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.