LifeWay Christian Stores is to buy the long-established Christian Book & Gift Stores in Olathe, Kan., and Topeka, Kan., from co-owners and industry veterans Ken Hite and Larry Haege.

The Southern Baptist chain announced this week that it recently signed a letter of intent for the purchase, which is expected to close by March 1. The acquisitions will make the chain's first stores in Kansas and bring its total number of outlets to 147 in 25 states.

LifeWay President Mark Scott said that the chain had been "delighted" when approached about the possible acquisition. Hite and Haege had "done an excellent job serving these communities. We hope to honor their ministry in the local area through our service to churches and individuals."

Haege told Christian Retailing that the deal had been precipitated by Hite's desire to step down from day-to-day oversight of the stores and the fact that Haege himself could not assume the role because of his work with Innovative Church Marketing.

Twice a former CBA Store of the Year and originally owned by Hite, the Olathe store dates back more than 40 years, during which time it went through several expansions to its current 15,000 square feet. Bought by Haege in 1978 from the former owners for whom he had worked, the Topeka store relocated three years ago to its current 12,000-square-foot location.

Haege and Hite became partners as Christian Book & Gift Stores in 1996, opening another store in Lawrence, Kan., that closed a few years ago. An early pioneer of Internet retailing and marketing, Haege founded Innovative, based in Greensboro, N.C., to provide online and church marketing systems and support to Christian retailers.

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