Last month, Lorraine Valk--who owns Banner Books Parable Christian Store of St. Joseph with her husband, Jim--was sent a letter from a restaurant owner in her shop's business plaza, claiming that her store's sign was encroaching and trespassing on his eatery.

"It came from out of the blue," Valk told Christian Retailing. "I wasn't expecting that. It's a vital part of our business to have the sign where it's at."

Valk, who has requested prayer about the situation through her St. Joseph's Facebook page, bought the 7,000-square-foot store more than two years ago from her parents--who owned it for more than 30 years. She said the sign was part of the original development when her parents bought it from another business in the plaza.

"It's a question of whose property is it legally on-it's been grandfathered in," said Valk, noting that she received permission from the local township board to change the sign into a digital one 18 months ago without any complaints from the restaurant owner. "I don't want to create ill will towards the restaurant."

She added that tomorrow, May 22, was the deadline to remove her store's sign. "I have no idea what to expect at this point," said Valk, who has 10 full- and part-time employees. "I'm so glad that God has it under control. We are standing firm."

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