From the Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
An announcement by Family Christian recently stated that the religious store chain will be closing all of its locations due to failing revenue.
“As with any worthwhile endeavor, there have been challenges and setbacks, as well as remarkable acts of service and self-sacrifice,” said President and CEO Chuck Bengochea. “The retail landscape is changing, however, and despite improvements in our product assortment and our store experience, we have not been able to generate the sales necessary to sustain our business.”
Family Christian has maintained more than 240 locations in the nation and employed more than 3,000 people. There are seven locations in Alabama. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2015.
“We had two very difficult years post-bankruptcy,” Bengochea said. “Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline. In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market.”
8 Comments
Georgie Rowan Allen
Nikki Crocker
Kevin Small
I think I saw the writing on the wall when they started carrying non Christian / secular books, movies and other merchandise. The major problem there is for those products they were much higher priced.
Jason Lynn
Carman Lynn
Susan Thompson Caudle
And also opening on Sundays!
Drake Riley
Just about all bookstores are hurting since everything is going digital.
Pennie Pyle
Sad
Scott Buttram
I bought Sara Marie’s first Bible here. Hate to see them go.
Terry Yerby
wow, did not know that