About Us

Ellis Tanner Trading Company Story

Ellis started Ellis Tanner Trading Company on a cold windy day in March 1967 at a small store south of the present location in Gallup, NM.

Ellis Tanner grew up learning the trading business from his family by watching and helping his family with the Native American people. He is a fourth generation trader and very proud to live and work within the Four Scared Mountains his whole life.

Ellis' great grandfather, Seth Tanner, came West with Brigham Young who sent Seth to scout Arizona, and he started settlement there. The Navajos called him "Hosteen Shush" which means "Mr. Bear" Ellis Tanner's grandfather Joseph Baldwin Tanner was also honored with a Navajo name; he was called "shush Yaz" which means "Little Bear." He was highly respected trader and a very good friend of Chee Dodge, the first Chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council. Ellis Tanner's parents, Ruel Lehi and Stella Tanner were well respected traders and they had stores in several areas of the reservation.

The Navajos have honored Ellis Tanner with the name "Aye'hee' Yazzie" which means "Little In-law." In the Navajo way "Little In-law" is a great honor and great responsibility that Ellis Tanner takes very seriously. He works very hard to do what he can to help his "in-Laws" and to carry the Tanner tradition. Over the years he has built a good reputation of being a fair and honest businessman.

Lastly, Ellis Tanner is the only trader in Gallup, NM who can say he’s been in business continuously since the start! While many “long-term” traders claim they’ve been in business for decades, they actually bought other long standing trading posts and then updated their names while claiming they’ve been in business since the original founding date under the other name.

New and long time customers are very important to him. Ellis thanks everyone for doing business with him.