2. Bergby handel – the village shop

Shops. Freedom of trade was introduced in Sweden in 1864 and the guild system was abolished. Previously, business activities could only be carried out by merchants in the cities. With freedom of trade, shops came to the countryside. The first merchant in Bergby was named Ekman, he ran a shop between 1864 and 1881. After him, the farmer Anders Eriksson took over. He had Bergby handel built. The property was called Fredrikslund. At the end of the 19th century, there was a general store in almost every village in Häverö Parish; in Trästa, Bergby, Tulka, Björknäs, Kåtorp, Hallsta and Häverödal. In 1930, Bergby handel was bought by a merchant family from Dalarna. The son took over the business and ran it with his wife until it was closed down in 1995. Bergby trade was run by the same family for 65 years!

Bergby handel is a classic country store. Everything from clothes, shoes, horseshoes and mousetraps to window batting and the most common foodstuffs is sold here. Everything is done over the counter, self-service came much later. Bergby Handel is an early adopter of installing telephones. Many villagers make their calls from the store. When bus lines are established in 1928, with two trips daily along the route Älmsta–Ortala–Trästa–Bergby Häverösund (now Häverödal), the store becomes a natural stop. The bus stops here to drop off goods and pick up passengers.

Meeting point. Bergby handel is not only a place for trade, but also for meetings and conversations. While shopping is being done, news and gossip are exchanged – the shop serves as the village’s natural meeting point and social hub. Today, locals shop in more anonymous supermarkets in Älmsta and Hallstavik.