Bette and Sal Gallo, cherished gifts to jazz fest, the community
Everyone associated with the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival values and appreciates the generous support of Bette & Sal Gallo. As major sponsors of what is now a nationally recognized event, these two entrepreneurs have been a cherished gift not only to the festival, but to our community as well. So please join us in celebrating the 2016 Jazz Fest Producers of the Year, Bette & Sal Gallo!
Sal and Bette founded what is now Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty in 1979. The husband and wife team opened their first office on Coastal Highway between Lewes and Rehoboth, and it wasn’t long before they opened their second office on Christian Street in Rehoboth Beach. The company has grown steadily, expanding to over 120 agents and staff in their current, larger offices in Rehoboth, Lewes and Bethany Beach.
Married for over 56 years, Bette and Sal are proud of their four children, Lee Ann Wilkinson, Realtor; Steve Gallo, engineer; Tricia Ratner, marketing & public relations, and Maria Gallo, teacher. The Gallos and their children were born in Norristown, PA, and spent summers here at the beach before moving to Lewes permanently in 1974.
In 1995, Bette was asked to be a member of the board of directors of Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Inc., retaining an active board membership until 2009. Always the entrepreneur, she was a prime mover in convincing business owners to upgrade their outdoor signage to enhance the appearance of Rehoboth Beach.
The Gallos have always been forces in the Cape Region business community. Starting in 1973, Bette and Sal broke ground on many levels. They became the first to introduce submarine sandwiches to the Rehoboth foodscape when they opened Yellow Submarine in the downtown Rehoboth Mall in the ocean block. The Yellow Submarine was a family affair, with the kids taking part in the day-to-day activities. Sal’s mother was responsible for the homemade cannolis - again, another edible first for the fledgling resort.
Bette and Sal helped pave the way for the Rehoboth Outlets (now the Tanger Outlets) when they opened L&S Clothing Outlet, selling manufacturer overstocks. In the years following, they ran an ice cream shop, a jewelry store, and were partners in creating the California Sunshine shops until they opened Gallo Realty in 1979. They are now partnered as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty.
Through their Gallo Gives Foundation and Bette personally, Sal and the family support all types of organizations here in the Cape Region, including but certainly not limited to several public and private schools, local historical societies, the Sussex County Association of Realtors, Beebe Hospital, St. Edmond’s Church, Meals on Wheels, Rehoboth Beach Film Society … the list goes on and on. Sal & Betty will receive the Producers of the Year award at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival opening event concert. Go to www.RehobothJazz.com for performance schedules and to purchase tickets.
