New owners take over JT’s Store and Diner in Blumenort

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This article was published 29/10/2020 (1647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tarun and Lalita Gola are aiming for success in the Blumenort market.

The new JT’s Store and Diner owners took over the business in July. Gola is originally from India and spent time in a number of countries, including spending 10 years in Europe. Gola’s last stop was McPhillips Street in Winnipeg before heading south. The family lives in Steinbach.

“I’m quite used to cold conditions,” Gola said.

Gola said he previously worked for a multi-national company and has managed regional business before. He said he saw the Blumenort store as good opportunity being as it is just outside Steinbach, and said JT’s offers a good mix of services for customers.

Gola came to Blumenort as an investor and scouted area businesses. He said he was committed to going outside Winnipeg given the market’s competitiveness.

Constant feedback from customers is a must in the convenience store business, Gola said.

“One thing that is very important for the survival of this type of business is to interact with customers,” Gola said. Along with town residents, construction workers are regular customers, and they buy food-to-go and energy drinks.

Gola said his business model is different than the high-volume Walmart, and the convenience store keeps less in stock than does the huge company. Walmart has a supermarket model, while JT’s offers Blumenort convenience, Gola said.

JT’s store was one of the first businesses in the area associated with COVID. When the Golas took over, the restaurant was closed due to COVID risks. Food businesses have been trying a grab-and-go model, and the restaurant has been open for four weeks using a similar model, Gola said.

“People still need convenience items, they require gas, to move on,” Gola said, adding the store is following public health guidelines.

“People are moving on,” Gola said. “They’re taking precautions.”