A news report that the Family Christian Stores chain has filed for bankruptcy is positive for customers of the affiliate store on Madison’s east side. The report in Christianity Today says that the chain made the move in order to keep from having to liquidate and close their stores. Presumably that will preserve Madison’s sole remaining Christian book store, located at 1746 Eagan Road, in the Princeton Club Shopping Center near East Towne Mall.
Not too long ago Madison had almost a half dozen Christian book stores. The Bread Shop started out serving college students on State Street in the 1960s, gravitated to several successive west side locations, was bought by Family Christian Stores, and then finally closed. It’s last location on Odana Road is now a pet food store.
Al Huizenga operated The Carpenter Shop on Monroe Street for many years, and then expanded to Words of Hope on Monona Drive. Eventually he closed the Carpenter Shop, and in 2008 he held a “Going Out of Business” Sale and closed Words of Hope.
Madison’s first Christian book store, Madison Church Supply, closed up in 2012. Owner Bob Hetico moved up to working directly for a book publisher.
The internet, of course, has totally changed the book business, in terms of how books are bought and information is dispensed. But,Christian book stores are good for other products like greeting cards. Sometimes it’s hard to find greeting cards that aren’t salacious. Hobby Lobby used to sell Christian greeting cards but some reason stopped stocking the cards several years ago. Still, for now, Madison has one Christian book store.