New owners pay homage to Bernardston store’s 1960s roots

Jesse Snow with a standing rib roast at Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston.

Jesse Snow with a standing rib roast at Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Meat and produce for sale at Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston.

Meat and produce for sale at Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Marshalls Country Store at 44 Church St. in Bernardston.

Marshalls Country Store at 44 Church St. in Bernardston. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

New owners Jesse and Amber Snow of Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston.

New owners Jesse and Amber Snow of Marshalls Country Store in Bernardston. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

By LIESEL NYGARD

For the Recorder

Published: 11-30-2023 11:55 AM

BERNARDSTON — Lifelong Franklin County residents Jesse and Amber Snow have purchased the Country Corner Store and restored its former name of Marshalls Country Store, harkening back to its 1960s roots.

Gill resident Jeff Klein, 60, owned the 44 Church St. store for 18 years before entering semi-retirement and selling the business to the Snows.

“I was getting burned out from the store,” said Klein. “It was time to relax for a little bit and do something else. ... [Jesse] worked for me a couple of years ago, and when we decided he wanted to buy it, I thought it was good timing for both of us.”

Jesse Snow’s background is in cooking. He worked in the kitchen of the former Four Leaf Clover restaurant for 15 years, as well as at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston and Hope & Olive in Greenfield.

“I jokingly do have scars from peeling potatoes,” Snow, 31, said about his experience working at the Four Leaf Clover, which was owned by his father. “I would get $5 to run up to [the Country Corner Store] for all of the penny candy. ... I grew up with this location.”

With his background in cooking, Snow said he hopes to “bring a little extra pizzazz” to Marshalls Country Store by selling cakes, pies and other foods people can find in restaurants. Different hot meals are offered weekly, with examples including shrimp and broccoli alfredo and chicken noodle casserole. Snow noted the store will soon be able to accept Electronic Benefits Transfers (EBT).

While they are playing around with new ideas, the couple said they intend to continue what Klein has done for the store by keeping it “market style.” People can buy fresh vegetables and fruit, alcohol, snacks, local honey and maple syrup. Earrings made by “The Earring Lady” have also been a popular commodity.

“Every time [The Earring Lady] comes in ... cashiers come running up,” Snow said.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Two Gardner residents killed in three-vehicle crash in New Salem
Benefit to be held this weekend for Northfield fire victim
Franklin County, North Quabbin students honored for success in, out of class
Bulletin board: Day 5 Massachusetts Shotgun Deer Hunting Season
State climate law leaves locals uneasy
Bulletin board: Day 4 Massachusetts Shotgun Deer Hunting Season

Before buying Marshalls Country Store, the couple traveled to hundreds of corner stores within and outside of Massachusetts to study menu ideas, types of sandwiches and other ways they could create a unique store.

Amber Snow, 26, who was a phlebotomist before buying the store with her husband, said she has been enjoying the business journey.

“It’s been a learning curve for sure,” she said. “It’s been an adjustment for me doing upstairs work and working in the back of the deli, but it’s been really fun to learn.”

Prior to Jesse and Amber Snow’s purchase of the store, and Klein’s back in 2005, the building had a few owners dating back to around the 1960s. Harry Marshall and his wife, Alice Marshall, operated the store for more than 30 years, at which time the business was known as Marsh-Grove Food Mart or Marshalls Country Corner. Klein said that when Barbara Wiemers took over the store in the 1990s, she renamed the business “Country Corner Store.”

“It has a great history,” said Klein. “Now it’s Amber and Jesse Snow. I hope they have great success. ... They’ve got some great knowledge and they can go from there.”

Marshalls Country Store is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. The business’ Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/countrycornerstore.ma.