Betty's Country Store
Groceries, a deli and the biggest German beer shelf in town, family owned since 1973
The short answer
Why locals and cabin renters both stop here
Betty's started in 1973 as a small mom-and-pop grocery run by Betty and George Fain, and it has grown into a 10,000-square-foot, family-owned store at the corner of Main and Yonah streets. It's the one place in town where you can buy cabin groceries, a sandwich for the trail, a bottle of German beer and a jar of local preserves without driving out of Helen.
The store's own site lists a deli, a bakery, a produce section, wine, a bar and a beer selection it bills as the largest German beer selection around. That last part makes sense in a town that spends September and October in lederhosen. Betty's runs a website of its own if you want to check the current departments before you go.
What to pick up
Think of it as three stops in one. Start in the grocery aisles for coffee, breakfast and cooking staples, then work through the deli and bakery for ready-made lunches, and finish at the beer and wine shelves.
Cabin provisions
Groceries, produce and bakery items for a weekend kitchen. Stop on your way in, before the winding mountain roads to your cabin.
Deli and bakery
Sandwiches and baked goods to take to Anna Ruby Falls or a tubing day. Ask what's fresh that morning.
German beer and wine
The store advertises the largest German beer selection in the area, plus wine. Ask the staff for Oktoberfest-style picks.
Local and Southern pantry items
Look for stone-ground grits and cornmeal from Nora Mill and jars of jams, pickles and honey from regional makers.
Hours and the practical bits
Betty's lists its hours as 7 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week. That makes it handy for the early start a waterfall day needs and for the late arrival after a long drive in.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 Yonah Street, Helen, GA 30545 (corner of Main and Yonah) |
| Phone | 706-878-2943 |
| Hours | Daily, 7 AM to 9 PM (per the store's website) |
| Size | About 10,000 square feet |
| Open since | 1973, family owned |
Make a stop of it
Betty's sits a short walk from the main shopping blocks. Pair it with a fudge stop at Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, a browse through the downtown shops, and a stop at the toy store if you're traveling with kids. Downtown parking has changed, so read the parking guide first.
What each department covers
The store's own site lists six departments, and the table sorts out what each is for. It doesn't publish item-by-item stock, so treat this as a guide to where to look.
| Department | Good for |
|---|---|
| Groceries and produce | Breakfast, cooking staples and fresh produce for a rental kitchen |
| Deli | Ready-made food for a trail lunch or a cabin dinner |
| Bakery | Baked goods; ask what came out that morning |
| Beer and wine | Advertised as the largest German beer selection in the area, plus wine |
| Bar | Listed as a department on the store's site |
Where it started
Betty's opened in 1973 as an 800-square-foot shop founded by George and Betty Fain, and its website says three generations of the family have kept it going as it grew to 10,000 square feet. That history is why locals still shop here, not just visitors. The store's own site lists the address as 18 Yonah Street and the phone as 706-878-2943.
Timing and parking
Hours are 7 AM to 9 PM every day, so you can stop on a cabin check-in day without watching the clock. Helen has no parking meters or garages. The city runs free lots east of Main Street and private pay lots post their rate at the entrance; the parking guide maps them. Oktoberfest runs nightly through November 1, 2026, and the Lighting of the Village is Friday, November 27, so expect the downtown blocks to fill on those dates. Grocery runs go easier on a weekday.
Quick questions
What time does Betty's Country Store open?
The store's website lists 7 AM to 9 PM every day. Hours can shift for holidays, so call 706-878-2943 if your timing is tight.
Where is Betty's Country Store?
At 18 Yonah Street in Helen, on the corner of Main and Yonah streets, a short walk from the downtown shopping blocks.
Does Betty's have a deli?
Yes. The store lists a deli with fresh daily offerings along with a bakery, produce, wine and a beer selection.
Is Betty's good for cabin groceries?
It's a popular choice for cabin renters because it combines groceries, a deli and a bakery in one stop.
How big is Betty's Country Store?
The website says it grew from an 800-square-foot shop in 1973 to 10,000 square feet.
What is Betty's phone number?
706-878-2943, per the store's website.
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