By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- Greg and Mary Circe have sold the Village Diner in Market Square Mall, 22 Depot Street.

Denise LaBar and Jarrod Davis have begun the transition to their ownership and management of the popular diner, which the Circes opened in May, 2003.

The Circes announced they would be selling the business a little over a year ago.

“We now have grandchildren living too far away for us to attend school concerts, tee-ball games and grandparents’ days. We need to be there,” they said at the time.

LaBar, a Nicholville native and St. Lawrence University graduate, and Davis, a graduate of RPI from the Kingston area, both have considerable food and beverage management experience, but this will be their first ownership position.

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” LaBar said.

They say they will be keeping the current staff, menu and open hours to start.

“We hope customers will notice very little change,” she said.

The Circes made a thriving and successful business in a spot where several attempts by a succession of owners had tried to make a go of it. They met their goals, they said, and have seen revenues rise every year.

The Circes expressed gratitude to their staff, customers, suppliers and supporters, and for the many friends they have made.

They will be living in the Boston area.