NEDERLAND - Small communities like Nederland thrive when love, respect, and care are reciprocated among all; when there is as much being given as received. Everyone benefits when kindness and empathy are shared among neighbors, and the town truly blooms from this kind of symbiosis.

It isn’t an easy thing to achieve, not even with a population as small as Nederland’s, as there are always going to be issues that divide us. But there is truly no better place where you can witness the fruits of that communal connection, both figuratively and literally, than at B&F Mountain Market.

This past year, the Nederland community experienced two major events: a multiple-day power outage and a five-foot snow storm. Both events proved that the people of this town can put differences aside as they support one another during these difficult mountain living times. 

Those experienced residents like the Ball family, who have been the primary owners of the B&F for 34 years, not only are the first to offer their knowledge, experience, and assistance to those unfamiliar with navigating the inconveniences that can befall a mountain town, they also cherish the ways that such events can bring the Town together.

Many will remember the major storm of March 2003, when over seven feet of snow crippled the entire area for over a week.

Though Ned folks have fond memories of snowboarding off their roofs, most cherish the time when all of Nederland came together in the Caribou Village Shopping Center, where B&F lit up the barbecue to cook up all their inventory that was in danger of going bad due to town-wide power outages.

“People couldn’t get anywhere. They had no food,” Dan Ball told The Mountain-Ear, “and I said that we have to feed this community; this isn’t about money, this is about people. And so that’s what we did for two days.”

This momentous experience is just one example of how B&F has defined what it means to be a local grocery store: by how their amazing management and crew go above and beyond to serve the community, not just in normal times of splendid convenience, but also in times of crisis.

The snow storm of 2003, the flood of 2013, the fire of 2016, the pandemic of 2020—Dan and Susan Ball and their family have been there for the community through all of it.

In early December, 2024, a rumor spread across Nederland which was quickly confirmed on social media by long-time Market employee Steven Reinhold.

“I'm sad in a way, because I love Dan. He is the best boss I've ever had,” Reinhold wrote in a December 6 post on Nedheads. “However, I'm so happy for him, and after meeting the new owner, I'm very encouraged, and I'm looking forward to this new adventure.” 

The news came as a shock to the community, as nobody knew that the B&F was up for sale—and technically it wasn’t. It just took Dan Ball finding the right fit for taking over the role of Nederland’s local grocery store before he could even consider letting it go.

It’s quite big boots to fill for such a small town, but Darin Hill seems more than just up to the task, as he knows exactly what it means to be “locals-focused.”

“It’s about tailoring the market to what the folks want,” Hill said in an interview with The Mountain-Ear.

Hill began bagging groceries at 14 years old in Casper, Wyoming. He bought his first grocery store in 2000; it would become his company’s flagship store, the first “The Market,” in Ridgway, Colorado. 

“Nederland reminds me of the way Ridgway was 25 years ago when we first moved there,” Hill said. “Nederland is just a small town up in the mountains, not as touristy, with that cool vibe, that real Colorado feel.”  

With a focus on maintaining the family-owned grocery atmosphere by designing their stores to fit the needs and character of each unique community, Hill’s market “empire” has grown from the one store in Ridgway to 25 The Market stores across the country. 

Hill’s business philosophy and all-around demeanor made Dan Ball feel confident in his choice—that he was leaving the legacy he had grown in the right hands.

“Dan wanted to make sure that it wasn’t going to be someone coming in who just wanted to upend things,” Hill noted.

“We would not have even thought about this had it not been for Darin, his business, the way they are and the way they treat people,” Ball added.

The Market of Nederland is not expected to be anything like The Market of Vail or The Market of Telluride; neither Hill nor The Market’s Operations Manager Brian Howerton have any interest in blanketing Nederland with corporate signage or creating a boring uniformity. Many things will remain the same, as Hill mentioned that the Ball family kept superb care of their business and building.

“Dan’s had his brand on this store forever, and we’re not looking to change that,” Hill said. “What we don’t want to do is cookie-cut stores. I worked in corporate America for years. That’s what they do and we don’t do that.”

Though some improvements and additions are sure to come, Hill wants the townspeople to know that the local feel that the B&F has cultivated over the decades will endure at The Market of Nederland, especially as the excellent staff will continue working alongside the new owners to maintain that authentic atmosphere.

“The store just keeps going the way it’s going forever; no changes in people, no major changes to layout,” Hill explained. “If anything, we’ll try to do some enhancements, but if it already works, if it’s not broke, then we’re not going to try and fix it.”

When asked what’s next for Dan and Susan Ball, they joked that they may finally be able to relax together.

“A honey-do list,” Dan joked about what may actually be in store for him now that B&F is being left in good hands.

“Probably a vacation. We haven’t had a vacation together in probably 30 years,” Susan corrected.  

“It’s a demanding business and we care about our community. We love Nederland, and we always wanted to make sure that everything was taken care,” Dan said.

As the entire Ball family, from the oldest to the youngest, gathered around the store, aprons on, helping Hill and Howerton with the transition, going over the store’s inventory, it was clear that another momentous occasion was happening on B&F grounds: a dream was being realized. 

Someone truly deserving had been found to carry the torch, and the entire community was in support of Dan Ball and family fulfilling their dream of their legacy not only not dying, but living on in the right hands. 

The Market at Nederland will be the new community hub, where people will brave the ski traffic just to buy essentials and say hello to their favorite cashier; where people will flock when preparing for a storm or power outage; where newcomers hoping to start a new life will go for their first job in Nederland.

“We would like to thank the entire town of Nederland and Peak to Peak community for their support,” Dan answered, when asked if there was anyone they’d wish to shout out. 

“It’s impossible to pick just one person,” Susan said.  

“During COVID we had people bagging groceries and stocking shelves for free,” Susan continued. “Every catastrophe we’ve had, people would come here and say ‘what can we do to help.’ They didn’t ask for anything. They helped us just as we’ve helped them; we would never have been able to make it without them. 

“We were brought up in a small town, we help each other, that’s just how we are.”

“We’ve truly been blessed,” Dan said. 

Here’s to a continued legacy of love, respect, and care.