Our History

Barnstead Country Store was opened more than 50 years ago on Beaverdale Road in Troy, PA.  It was a bulk food store with dried fruit, pastas, beans, baking products, and old fashioned candy.  After a time, the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Coles sold the store to a gentleman who closed it soon after. 

Mr. and Mrs.Alderfer then opened a similar store in nearby Sylvania, and named it Alderfer’s Food Pantry.  They moved the store to Route 14 in Troy before settling in at the present location a half mile east of Troy, in 1999.  The Alderfers expanded the store’s product line to include Gluten Free and Sugar Free products. 

On Labor Day weekend 2007, Terry and Martha Detweiler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Coles, and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Alderfer purchased the business and renamed it using both previous names.  The store became Barnstead Pantry and was a family business effort for 11 years.

Mary Beth and Rollin Baker have now owned and operated the store since October 1st, 2018.  Mary Beth grew up in East Troy and knows the people and the area well.  As a professional Nutritionist, Mary Beth has again expanded the store’s product line.  When they announced the change in ownership, they let folks know that, “The Barnstead  Pantry is the same Great Store, with pretty good new owners.” 

The Barnstead Pantry has been a frequent stop in Troy, PA for local buyers and for tourists passing through town for the past 30 years.  It has a certain “Charm” that attracts new customers and keeps those who have shopped here for many years coming back. 

Stop in and see us, call us, or email us.  Our greatest asset is a Satisfied Customer.

 Biography

Mary Beth had been shopping at the Barnstead Pantry since it was owned by Mrs. Gladys Alderfer.  On several occasions, when Marty and Terry Detweiller owned the store, Mary Beth would tell them that she always wanted a place like the Barnstead Pantry, and would consider buying it if they ever wanted to sell.  In the spring of 2018, Marty told her that they were thinking of selling.  Things moved fast, and on October 1st, 2018, Mary Beth and Rollin Baker assumed ownership of the store.

Mary Beth has worked as a Nutritionist for more than 28 years. She is currently employed as a Nutritionist with the Women, Infants, and Children Program (W.I.C.).  She also worked for six years as an Adjunct Professor at Penn College School of Culinary Arts, where she taught “Introduction to Nutrition”.  From this, and from her passion for good tasting, high quality, and healthy foods, she has developed an understanding of what it takes to make food meet her hgh standards.  She enjoys the challenge of finding just the right ingredients and items that our customers desire. 

Rollin has spent much of his working life in Marketing and Customer Service.  He brings to the store an understanding of competitive marketing, pricing, finance, and how supply and demand work together to provide the widest possible range of in-stock items for the customer. 

A further benefit the store has to offer you, is the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Janet, Mary, Cathy, Lily, Jed and Kess all add to the feeling that you are welcome at our store, and that we appreciate your patronage. 

We are like a family here, and together, Mary Beth, Rollin, and the rest of the team will work with you, the customer, in meeting your needs.  The motto that they have had since Day One is, “Our Greatest Asset is a Satisfied Customer.”