Store inundated with help and support, presented opportunity to remodel 53-year-old building

A longtime, award-winning Christian store in Rochester, Minn., has rebounded after its roof collapsed, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Customers, local businesses and well-wishers from as far away as England as well as CBA and vendors rallied around in support for Christian Book & Gift Shop―which saw a section of its roof fall Jan. 23, snapping a water pipe and flooded parts of the store.

The incident forced the store to close for about six days, re-opening in a much smaller space. The store also owns an adjoining building, which it used while the collapsed part was under reconstruction.

Christian Book & Gift Shop—which started in 1957—was named among the “Top 25 Christian Stores” in 2000 by Christian Retailing magazine and was CBA Store of the Region three times.

Judy Mulholland, co-manager of the store, told Christian Retailing that God protected employees and customers as no one was hurt during the roof collapse.

“Being a slow time of year, we had five staff members in the building and only three customers,” Mulholland said. “Someone was near (the roof), but no one was under it when it broke. Being on a Saturday, the gift buyer―whose desk was right next to the area where the truss broke through―was not working. She uses a walker, and would not have been able to make a hasty retreat.”

The mishap caused approximately $330,000 damage—covered by insurance—to the 9,500-square-foot store, including $175,000 to the building, $130,000 in inventory and about $25,000 in fixtures.

Mulholland said there was “a silver lining” from the roof collapse as the store was able to acquire new tile and carpet, and it made layout changes in a remodeling―which was to be finished June 1.

“God is giving us our hearts’ desires through this difficulty,” she said. “I’m sure the media coverage (of the roof collapse) was seen by many who don’t shop our store. Our building has been a pretty plain box for years, and we thought a nicer-looking front would be good advertising. Insurance covers redoing the whole front. We are confident that it will be a positive influence in attracting people.”

Mulholland said the store had been inundated with help and support, including “a basketful of cards.” “One local business sent us flowers,” she said. “A good customer brought cookies, our newspaper rep sent pizza for supper one evening, CBA gave us a year’s membership, our DaySpring rep notified his accounts and we received cards from several of them.

“One of our staff―who’s always been our best customer―gave us a $25 gift certificate to Great Harvest Bread Company, Kerusso sent a couple of free T-shirts, Warner Press offered extended billing and free freight, another bookstore sent $20, and some of our local advertising reps sent cards or stopped in,” added Mulholland, noting that the store will hold a grand opening once the remodeling is complete.

CBA Executive Director Curtis Riskey told Christian Retailing that the booksellers association was happy to help Christian Book & Gift Shop.

“When our stores are going through some type of disaster or calamity, we want to help and so the Mulhollands received a one-year membership as a gift from CBA,” Riskey said. “Christian Book & Gift Shop has been a member in good standing since 1967, and we have appreciated their membership. Their business is truly a family affair. ... The Mulhollands are serving their community and their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ well in Rochester.”

Besides a pastor donating $50 towards the construction, customers offered “to help in any way they could,” Mulholland said. The store also received e-mails, including “from someone in England who read about it somewhere on the Web and found our Web site,” added Mulholland.