Nov 29, 2018 3 min read

Tina Theys always wanted her own little Cracker Barrel Store. After “many, many years” working in the health-care industry, she left to pursue her real passion – artificial floral. She did home shows and online sales, arrangements for weddings and anniversaries, as well as funeral lanterns and wreaths. She strove to create unique designs that could be keepsakes for years to come, and also incorporated her husband, Jason’s, wood work, until it all became too much to carry around.

In 2015, serendipity intervened, with the space of a former antique store on Broad Avenue in Belle Vernon going up for sale. Through hard work and sweat equity, the drab store with grey carpeting turned into a cute, country-themed retail space dubbed Floral Decor & More Country Store, which opened in December 2015. Theys featured her artificial floral designs, her husband’s hand-made accent woodwork, as well as primitive and country home decor and custom gift baskets.

And this past June, Floral Decor & More Country Store turned into the Country Store Cafe. “I always wanted to incorporate the coffee shop part of it, but it took a couple of years, looking at times that aren’t busy in the country store,” Theys says. “I’ve always loved the concept of a Cracker Barrel, but I wanted it to be a little healthier – not so much healthy because we do have cupcakes sometimes – but we don’t fry any foods here or do any cooking.”

It’s considered a ready-made food establishment because everything is prepared for the store and not cooked on-site. Pastries and all breads for sandwiches come from Valdiserri’s Bakery, and lunch meats and cheeses come from Duritza’s Market, both in Belle Vernon.

In addition to coffee house-style drinks, the menu features sandwiches, paninis and salads, pastries and desserts. Theys says her most popular menu items are The Turk, which is turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, onion, kicky Dijon mustard and provolone cheese on a hoagie roll; and the chicken salad croissant, which pairs fresh chicken salad, crisp lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. It’s available on a croissant or Italian baguette.

A rotating soup of the day menu might feature broccoli cheese, tomato basil, chili or beef vegetable.

Theys says she couldn’t run the cafe without her “girls”: Susan Mazanetz, Kayla Painter, Kinsey Johnston, Kristen Tetil, Gianna Lorenzo, Grace Lopez, Brooke Timko and Gina Ivan.

The reception from the public, so far, has been great.

Theys hosts teas and book clubs in a small room (booked in advance) and also participates in Broad Avenue’s five annual events (spring, summer, fall, Christmas and Small Business Saturday), where the merchants hold open houses, special sales or other special initiatives.

“It’s funny, because the country store has been here for years and as soon as I began serving food, people came in who never knew I was here,” Theys says. “So it was almost like, make food and they will come. There are days where I’m working by myself and I’ve had folks waiting in line and for me to make a sandwich, and they’re so patient because they know I’m making it fresh right there.”

Additionally, folks will patiently peruse the items in the store while they are waiting for their food.

Just like at Cracker Barrel.