The owner of a long-established Christian retail store in southwest Minnesota has cited big-box and Internet competition as forcing its closure after more than 30 years of service.

Jean Wilson is to shut down Heartsong Christian Bookstore in downtown Worthington, Minn.-described by the local newspaper as a "fixture" in the community-at the end of the year because of declining sales, reported The (Worthington) Daily Globe.

"I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. I've been supported well by Worthington, but it's easy to buy books on the Internet," she told the newspaper. "I think Wal-Mart has hurt my business as well-they carry the top Christian books. Wal-Mart is good for Worthington. I'm not complaining. It's just that times have changed."

Wilson, who 11 years ago took over what had been Andy's Book & Bible for a quarter century, said that online music sales and copying had also hit her business. "Our sales were down quite a bit last year, and it just became apparent after the first two quarters (this year). The Lord was saying it's time."

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