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Until its current incarnation, the Southfield Store had always been a general store, selling a wide variety of merchandise befitting a rural community,groceries, meats, gasoline, delicatessen, hardware, house wares, agricultural products, clothing and so forth. While sandwiches were an occasional item during the Ruggs' tenure, with the construction of the Kolburne in 1968, they became a standard feature. That practice continued throughout the 2o years the Lowman's operated the Store. And while there were no tables and chairs in the store, depending on the season and the weather, customers would often eat their sandwiches either in the Store or on the porch benches. In November 2003, Tim Newman became the store's owner and operator. Newman spent seven months on renovations and opened in June 2004. In all these years, we know of the Store being closed only after the fire in 1928 and from October 2001, when the Lowman's retired and its reopening on June 3rd 2004. Much has changed in Southfield,indeed in all the southern Berkshires,since the Lowman's purchased the Store in 1980. New Marlborough Township, of which Southfield is a part, was "discovered" by a growing number of New Yorker's eager to experience life in these gentle hills. Over the years, more and more families and couples with ties to New York City purchased homes or property surrounding Southfield to enjoy on weekends and for longer stretches during summer and ski season. Today something like forty percent of property owners in the area fall into this category. With its reopening in 2004, the Store was transformed from a classic New England general store into a Cafe and Coffee Bar, with seating for 30 people and daily food service, as well a retail business offering fine groceries, an international selection of cheeses and cured meats, wine, beer and spirits, things for the kitchen and table and gifts. Even with increasing number of second homeowners in the area and the store's changed mission, it is comforting to know that former Storeowner Dot Stevens still resides in Southfield and occasionally comes to the Store for lunch or Sunday brunch. The Southfield Store circa 2002. This was the original exterior style of store when it was built in 1929.