What is now a flourishing business and a staple in the community, once started off as a dream.
The Apple Barn Cafe has stood in the heart of Brimfield for 20 years now. As a woman-run business, it caters to the locals of the town and people from as far from overseas, serving up gourmet breakfasts year-round.
The backbone and owner of the business, Suzanne Collins, has watched her establishment grow from the ground up.
Before opening the Apple Barn Cafe in 2005, she always had a dream of operating a restaurant. And with seven children helping her, her first taste of that dream started by operating a hotdog cart.
“There’s a lot of pride in that hotdog cart,” her daughter, Amanda Collins, told MassLive.
Suzanne Collins’ father, Carlo Fusini, was a notable figure in Suzanne’s life, helping her get the hot dog cart, Amanda Collins added. The family aspect was passed down through the hot dog cart.
Suzanne Collins and her family would frequent local college towns like Amherst, among others, to sell hot dogs, passionate about sharing her food.
And when the time was right, the Apple Barn Cafe came to be.
The restaurant focuses on gourmet breakfast, stemming from Suzanne Collins’ love for the morning meal.
“I love making breakfast. I always have,” Suzanne Collins said.
Serving breakfast means providing only the best for customers. The Apple Barn Cafe has maintained the notion to always serve fresh food.
The food is prepared fresh, nothing is frozen or canned. And the eggs are from a local farmer.
“It means a lot because I make food as if I’m serving my mother or my father or a family member,” Suzanne Collins said. So when someone compliments us on our food, that makes me very happy that we make somebody else happy.”
Suzanne Collins pictured with her children.The Apple Barn Cafe
During the business’s first few years, her kids used to get off the bus and come help clean. Today, they’re still very much involved in the business.
One of her daughter’s who teaches math in Worcester, works Sundays at the restaurant. Another daughter, who is a science teacher, does marketing for the business. One of her sons has even stepped in to do the cooking in his mother’s absence.
“There’s nothing better than being able to work with your family,” Suzanne Collins said.
The constant commitment has attracted a fierce customer base.
The restaurant welcomes old faces and meets new ones every day. It’s garnered local attention, even expanding out to a fan base over the state line in Connecticut.
When the Brimfield Flea Market comes to town three times a year, the business opens its doors to people from all over the world.
The Apple Barn cafe sits in the middle of the antique market on Route 20, leaving the opportunity for more customers.
Suzanne Collins shared that her business has welcomed market goers from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
“We appreciate everybody that walks through the door no matter where they’re from,” she said. “It’s great. My children and my staff always have been introduced to people from different cultures in different areas. It makes them a better person because their world is vast.”
The restaurant has even welcomed such big names in entertainment as Martha Stewart.
Suzanne Collins, owner of the Apple Barn Cafe.The Apple Barn Cafe
At length, Suzanne Collins and the business look to give back to the community that they proudly serve food to.
“I think it’s just impressive being here for many years, going through recessions, going through COVID and doing what we can to support the community,” Amanda Collins said.
Suzanne Collins supports the Springfield Rescue Mission, Hitchcock Academy, the local churches and food pantries through making meals or donations.
“I believe that you have to give back,” Suzanne Collins added. “So every day I’m thankful. And with that comes an obligation to give.”
With a joy for service and family in arm’s reach, the Apple Barn Cafe has become a staple breakfast place in the area, hitting its milestone of 20 years of business.
“It’s a tremendous amount of work, but it’s tremendously rewarding,” Suzanne Collins said. “Every day, I’m thankful.”
The Apple Barn Cafe is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is located at 52 Palmer Road in Brimfield.
The business is open during every day the Brimfield Flea Market is running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The flea market will be back in Brimfield from May 13-18.
