A change is coming to a Barry’s Bay grocery store, but it won’t impact its ability to serve the community, its owners say.
Metro owners Neil and Connie O’Reilly and Gerard O’Malley say they are retiring, after about 30 years of running the Bay Street store.
They say Metro Inc. will take over ownership on November 12 and will be in charge of hiring new managers to run the store.
The trio shared the news with their staff of about 70 last week. They assured them that their jobs are safe and Metro Inc. is committed to keeping the store in Barry’s Bay.
O’Malley says the decision was tough, but all three feel it’s time to enter the next chapter in life.
“We know it’s time to pass the torch on,” he says. “We’re hoping that management positions will be filled from within. We feel really good about our decision and our community identity will be there for a long time to come.”
All three owners were raised in communities close to Barry’s Bay. Neil says, they all want the store to continue to play an important role in the local economy.
He also says he and his wife, Connie, and O’Malley will continue to be seen at the store, but they’ll soon just be regular customers.