What is the name of the shop owner in Stephen King's 'Needful Things'?

The shop owner in Stephen King’s Needful Things is Leland Gaunt.

Gaunt arrives in Castle Rock, Maine, and opens a shop called Needful Things. He seems able to offer every customer an object they desperately want, from collectibles to personal curiosities, at surprisingly low prices. His bargains always include an additional request: a prank or secret act directed at another resident.

The scheme works because Gaunt understands the town’s grudges, jealousies, and private histories. The seemingly harmless pranks intensify existing conflicts until Castle Rock descends into violence. Gaunt is more than an ordinary shopkeeper; the novel strongly implies that he is a demonic figure who has spent centuries manipulating people and collecting their souls.

Alan Pangborn, Castle Rock’s sheriff, is the principal opponent who investigates Gaunt and ultimately confronts him. Polly Chalmers owns a sewing shop and becomes one of Gaunt’s important targets, while Nettie Cobb is Polly’s housekeeper. These names are common wrong answers because each character is closely connected to the store’s destructive dealings.