Gallant's Country Food Market sold to new owner after 98 years in the same family

Gallant's Country Food Market in Rustico, P.E.I., has been owned by Keith Gallant's family for nearly 100 years. Now it's changing hands. 

Keith's grandfather Amos Gallant opened the store in 1927 and ran it for decades before passing it on to his son George, who ran it for a few decades himself. 

For the last 35 years, Keith and his wife Tammy Gallant have been operating the business, which has become a staple in the community of Rustico and other communities along P.E.I.'s North Shore. 

"It is sad for us," Keith Gallant said about selling his family's store. 

"It is time that we have to move on. Tammy and I have been loving everybody. We love the people. It's been a great atmosphere for us. This community has been beautiful for us. But there comes a time, and unfortunately the time is now."

Keith and Tammy Gallant said their decision to hand the business over to a new owner was due in part to some health conditions, but they also want to spend more time with their kids and grandkids, the youngest of whom was born just last week. 

"It is going to be different, but we're still going to support the store. It's been in the community forever," Keith said. 

"The gentleman who's buying it seems like a super nice guy." 

'I'm glad we made their life better' 

For Tammy, what makes the store special isn't just the products on the shelves. 

"It's the community. It's our customers. It's the people around who come in, and this is home for them," she said. "That's one of the harder things for us because we will still be here, we will see them, but it's just going to be different." 

Since the Gallants announced the sale of their store on social media Thursday evening, there has been an outpouring of support and well wishes from customers and community members. 

"It's exciting to think that people thought of me that way," Keith said. "I'm glad that we made their life better by being able to serve them." 

Tammy said she feels fortunate to have had so much support from the community over the years. 

"We want to say a very, very special thank you... to everyone who has supported us throughout our time and made running Gallant's Country Food Market what it was for us, which was the most remarkable experience," she said. 

'We always want to take care of our community' 

Although the ownership of Gallant's Country Market is changing, not much else will be, said Harish Reddy, the new owner. 

"As of now, we don't have any plans to change anything," he said. "Whatever they were doing before, we are going to continue the same thing and we will try to do the best."

Existing employees will continue working at the store, and some new faces will be joining for the summer, Reddy said. 

The store's history and what the Gallant family does for the community are a few of the reasons Reddy wanted to buy the store. 

"We always want to take care of our community," he said, noting how nice the people he met in the store have been. 

"We love our community. And whatever you guys want — you need any help, anything — just give me a call. I'm there for you guys."