More than two years ago, suppliers forgave Family Christian Stores $127 million in debt so that it could remain open. Faced with those options, Family Christian's creditors voted 162 to 7 to sell to FCS Acquisition. "We hope Family Christian can survive as a chain of stores. Family Christian, which employed more than 3,000 people in more than 240 stores across 36 states, blamed "changing consumer behavior and declining sales.""We had two very difficult years post-bankruptcy," stated president Chuck Bengochea. Send the Light Distribution closed down last summer after losing about half a million dollars on Family Christian's bankruptcy.
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A man walks past a Family Christian store in Troy, Mich. In the 1970s, the company changed its name from Zondervan to Family Bookstores and continued to add locations. (Photo: Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press)Family Christian, which bills itself as the "world's largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise," announced Thursday it is closing after 85 years. "Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline," said Chuck Bengochea, the company's president. Last year, Christianity Today reported that Send the Light Distribution, the largest distributor of Christian products, had announced plans to wind down operations because of online competition and Family Christian's bankruptcy, which was a big customer.
The store chain Family Christian will close all of its stores after 85 years. USA Today reports that Family Christian, which calls itself the "world's largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise," will close all 240 locations in 36 states due to declining sales. "Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline," said Chuck Bengochea, company president. A timetable for closure has not been announced. "In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market... We have prayerfully looked at all possible options, trusting God's plan for our organization, and the difficult decision to liquidate is our only recourse."The chain employs more than 3,000 people.
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Retail chain Family Christian plans close after 85 years
A man walks past a Family Christian store in Troy, Mich. In the 1970s, the company changed its name from Zondervan to Family Bookstores and continued to add locations. (Photo: Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press)Family Christian, which bills itself as the "world's largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise," announced Thursday it is closing after 85 years. "Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline," said Chuck Bengochea, the company's president. Last year, Christianity Today reported that Send the Light Distribution, the largest distributor of Christian products, had announced plans to wind down operations because of online competition and Family Christian's bankruptcy, which was a big customer.
Family Christian Retail Chain Closing All Stores
The store chain Family Christian will close all of its stores after 85 years. USA Today reports that Family Christian, which calls itself the "world's largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise," will close all 240 locations in 36 states due to declining sales. "Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline," said Chuck Bengochea, company president. A timetable for closure has not been announced. "In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market... We have prayerfully looked at all possible options, trusting God's plan for our organization, and the difficult decision to liquidate is our only recourse."The chain employs more than 3,000 people.
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collected by :John Miller