By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 19, 2017) Downtown Berlin was flooded over the weekend, not with rain, but with throngs of visitors during a highly successful Oktoberfest celebration. At one end of Main Street, Fin’s Ale House and Raw Bar held an all-you-can-eat Oystoberfest, with Philadelphia-based Pet Cheetah performing cover songs ranging from The Beatles to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. At the other, the Alte Kumpel Band performed traditional German music. In between, food vendors such as Gilbert’s Provisions and Baked Dessert Café sold bratwurst and pretzels, Burley Oak Brewing Company and workers and volunteers from the Berlin Chamber of Commerce sold locally brewed beer, and about a dozen stores and boutiques contributed to a sidewalk sale offering discounts on clothing and gift items. One retailer, Ta Da on 18 North Main Street, celebrated its penultimate day of business. It closed on Sunday after operating for more than two decades. Mother and daughter Patty Falck and Blair Parsons, who ran the shop, will transition to a new venture together, TaDa Interiors. Shelly Bruder and Larnet St. Amant of Bruder Hill, on 25 Commerce Street, will open a second location called Bruder Home in the old Ta Da location. “It’s an exciting new chapter. It’s bittersweet, but we’re thrilled to be passing it on to Shelly and Larnet,” Falck said on Sunday. “We can’t wait to see Bruder Home.” “I feel like we’re putting it in great hands,” Parsons said. “I’m going to miss seeing our customers and friends on Main Street every day, but it’s time to move on to the next chapter for all of us.” Parsons said she and the shop had “an amazing last weekend.” “It was a great crowd for Oktoberfest, and we’ve just been bombarded with well-wishers and notes and flowers and wine and all types of fun stuff,” she said. “It’s been a great sendoff. We’re very grateful, very happy, and we’re lucky to have had 21 amazing years.” Falck said Ta Da was also lucky to have Karen Jones for 18 years and Christine Torres for 17 years. Parsons affectionately calls the women her “three moms.” Torres said working at Ta Da was like being with family. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without my three moms every day,” Parsons added. Bruder Home officially opened on Wednesday. For more information on TaDa Interiors, visit www.tadainteriors.com. For more information on Bruder Home, visit www.facebook.com/bruderhomeboutique.