ANNALS OF COMMERCE: Changes Afoot in Station Place
By Avice Meehan
The Berkshire Country Store closed earlier than expected with owner Ryan Craig announcing on Facebook that he would shutter the business on Oct. 18 because of staff shortages. Even as that news left regulars looking for a new haunt for coffee and breakfast, the property owner shared news that another business may soon agree to take over the location on Station Place.
Michael Selleck, president of the Norfolk Hub board, said the organization was in “active negotiations” with a prospective tenant. Although it was too early to provide additional details, Selleck said the Hub had acquired the kitchen equipment and refrigeration units that Ryan installed when he opened the Berkshire Store a decade ago. “Our goal is to have a new tenant in place and have [that business] up and running as soon as possible, Selleck said.
In the meantime, Tricia Deans has temporarily closed the Les Renards & Co. bookstore in preparation for a move into newly renovated space owned by the Hub. She plans to reopen the bookstore on Dec. 1 in time for the holiday season and the planned “Holiday Stroll.”
The owners of the Royal Arcanum, American Folk & Heritage LLC, have not indicated how the space formerly occupied by the bookstore and by Ruthann Olsson Interior Arts & Design will be used. Brothers Dev and Aaron Aujla and Aaron’s wife, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, have not set an opening date for their newest business, Alfredo Taylor’s Food & Grocery in the Royal Arcanum.
On their final Sunday in Norfolk, Craig and his wife Marissa, the popular cafeteria manager at Sharon Center School, could barely keep up with the food orders as supplies ran down and friends stopped by to say hello. By noon, corned beef and a variety of other sandwiches were still available, but only raisin bagels remained and the bacon supply was down to a dozen pieces.
Community members stepped up to buy staples, as well as frozen meats and other goods, with the intention of donating them to the Norfolk Food Pantry. Craig’s popular frozen baguettes were long gone. Many of the paper goods were destined for the Sharon School, where Marissa Craig also runs an after-school baking club.
As for Craig, he was looking forward to a Saturday spent apple picking with his wife
and two children. In November, he was planning to start work at the Becton Dickinson plant in Canaan where he took a job with a company that manages the BD parts department. “I will have a salary I can be proud of. I am excited,” said Craig, who often spoke with candor about the challenges of running a small business. If only, he noted, the Berkshire Store had always been as busy as it was on its very last day