Barre Deli returns with familiar face running the business
Photos by Tom Rivers: Shawna Edwards has a big smile after flowers were dropped off this morning congratulating her on the reopening of the Barre Deli. Her parents, Jerry and Mora Edwards, are in back working in the kitchen.
Shawna Edwards reopens deli her parents ran for 16 years
The deli is located on Route 98 in Barre Center.
BARRE – It felt like a homecoming in the Barre Deli this morning. Shawna Edwards was warmly greeted by many of her customers.
Edwards grew up in the deli. Her parents, Jerry and Mora Edwards, ran it for 16 years until retiring in 2006.
The business had a new operator for a few years after that, but the Barre Center has been without its popular hangout for breakfast and lunch since 2011.
Edwards, 30, wanted to bring it back. The building had been turned into apartments. She needed to put in a kitchen and make other renovations.
Today she opened at 6 a.m. and has been greeted by a grateful community.
“I want to congratulate her because she put a lot of work into it,” said Mark Chamberlain, the Barre town supervisor.
Mora Edwards cooks breakfast this morning at the Barre Deli.
The community has felt a void with no Barre Deli the past several years. There hasn’t been a place to stop for a bite to eat between Elba and Albion. But that changed today.
The deli makes the popular breakfast sandwiches and omelets from when Jerry and Mora Edwards ran the business. (Jerry and Mora were there this morning, working the grill and reconnecting with Deli customers.)
The Deli also serves subs, pizza, chicken wings and homemade soups. It has soda, coffee, and some grocery items for sale.
“We’re very grateful for some place in town where you can buy milk and bread,” said Maureen Beach, the Barre town clerk.
Lynn and Billie Condoluci live next door. They stopped by for breakfast this morning. They were regulars when the Edwards first ran the business.
“If you needed something in a pinch, you could come right over,” Mrs. Condoluci said. “It looks good. They’ve done a lot of work.”
Lynn and Billie Condoluci are happy to have the Barre Deli back as a neighbor.
Edwards has worked the past 10 years in insurance with Paychex and Tompkins.
Her parents still own the Barre Deli building. Shawna wanted to make use of the site, and bring back a community asset.
“It’s so great to see everybody again,” she said this morning.
The deli will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and open 6 to 11 a.m. on Sundays. Shawna said she will likely be open later in the spring.
Shawna Edwards is pictured with her parents, Jerry and Mora.
