“The Blue and White is a landmark in Hollidaysburg and really all of Blair County. To say that people are excited to see it open again is an understatement,” Mayor Chad Repko said.

“In Hollidaysburg, we love and support small businesses. Having the Blue and White back is a big win for the community.”

The business had been closed since the May 10, 2020, death of Nancy Kerns. She had taken over the business following the death of her husband Bob Kerns on April 22, 2013.

Steve and Christina Bender bought the business in 2020 after Nancy’s brother Carl Hoover listed it for sale on Facebook. Their son Justin saw that it was for sale.

A brief history of the Blue and White Snack Bar is seen from the time it was owned by Bob and Nancy Kerns. Courtesy photo

“We wanted to preserve it for the community,” said Christina Bender. “When we bought it there was word going around that it would be torn down but I am not sure if that was true.”

The Benders bought the building and started to renovate it, only to have COVID hit. Then their home on North Juniata Street burned down, said Bender, who works as a mortgage lender at Freedmont Mortgage in Hollidaysburg.

Work on the Blue and White Snack Bar got pushed to the side as “we had more pressing issues,” said Steve Bender, who has previous restaurant experience working as a cook at King’s Family Restaurant in Altoona.

“After we got settled, we put the pedal to the metal and did it,” Christina Bender said.

Blue and White Snack Bar opened “by accident” on May 12 when former state representative Jim Gregory stopped by.

A collection of photos shows how the Blue and White Snack Bar in Hollidaysburg Courtesy photo

“We were getting ready to open, Jim Gregory came by and we made breakfast for him. So I guess we were officially opened,” Christina Bender said.

Gregory posted on his Facebook page that Blue and White had reopened.

“Jim helped us tremendously with his Facebook post. It was the push that we needed,” she said.

“We hold him responsible, we were seeing a few people, but he took it to Main Street,” Steve Bender said.

Gregory said he is excited to see Blue and White reopen.

“My wife, Lynn, and I live within walking distance and love our neighborhood. Seeing people here have such an iconic place to congregate and enjoy a sociable gathering for good food adds to the quaintness of our little slice of heaven,” Gregory said. “Steve and Christina’s willingness to invest life back into this business deserves our support, they are good humble people who appreciate the importance of the Blue and White in people’s lives here as a memory of their younger formative years.”

The history of Blue and white Snack Bar goes back to 1938 when Ellis P. (Curley) Kerns — Bob Kerns’ father — started in business in 1938 at Montgomery and Garber streets by opening a convenience store.

Kerns also opened some small businesses in Duncansville, but in 1945 he returned to Hollidaysburg, opening Curley’s Lunch at 606 Allegheny St. In 1948, he moved to 905 Union St., opening the Blue and White Snack Bar. He retired in 1968 and died in 1973.

The Blue and White Snack Bar building was built by Harry Deem in 1946 and opened as a neighborhood grocery store. Curley Kerns remodeled and expanded the building and opened it as a sandwich and ice cream soda foundation shop. In 1961, Curley Kerns sold out to Clyde Miller and Bob Kerns bought the Blue and White Snack Bar in 1962. Nancy Kens joined him in 1968. The business expanded the breakfast and lunch features and opened a catering business. Nancy Kerns baked and decorated wedding cakes.

The Benders said they have tried to keep the Blue and White Snack Bar as much like it was years ago.

“We tried to keep the integrity, we have the same bar and stools, we did everything we could do to keep it as close to how it was before. We also have the original candy case,” Christina Bender said. “I am super excited. Maybe one day we will leave our mark to be part of the history.”

For now, the Benders and their son, Justin, are running the business.

“It is all family,” Christina Bender said, adding that at some point, they will have to hire some people if they can’t sustain it themselves.

The Benders admit they have big shoes to fill following the Kernses.

“We can’t compare to them, they were so ingrained in the community. All we can do is keep the idea going, keep the dream alive. They were so loved,” Steve Bender said.

The menu is quite simple: serving breakfast and lunch weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We are adding things as we go. We plan to add ice cream and milk shakes in the next few weeks,” Steve Bender said. “Down the road hours may change. We are strongly considering adding Saturday. … People are asking us about Saturday.”

Retired businessman Byron Lasser has become a regular at Blue and White.

“I think it is fantastic, they need to get the word out. I was going there when I was in second grade. I had an accident and was in a wheelchair, my brother would take me there to get an ice cream cone,” Lasser, 79, said. “I wish the people a lot of luck. It will take some time; I made some suggestions to them. … I would like to see them successful. It is such an historic place.”

“We want people to know we are here, we are excited and want the dream to live on,” Christina Bender said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.