Some churchgoers' resistance to the idea of a retail operation at their place of worship might be challenged by what seems to be an emerging new trend--worship at places of retail operations.

As one report said, "Never the most popular commercial tenants because of their Sunday-only customer traffic, churches are now the darlings of shopping-center landlords stuck with empty movie theaters and big-box retail stores."

Through what he calls "adaptive reuse," churches are moving into vacated retail spots, Matthew D. Messier, a faith-based and nonprofit real estate specialist in Orlando, Fla., told the local Sentinel. The International Council of Shopping Centers has no data to support the trend, "but said it's apparent throughout the country," the newspaper added.

Upstart churches have leased empty storefronts for years, the report noted, but they tend to move out when they outgrow the space. But among those reversing the trend has been the city's C3 Church-short for "Connecting the Community with Christ"-which sold its buildings and 20 acres in 2007 and now leases space at a cinema complex.

As a result, the church is debt-free and has been able to give more of its money to those in need, said pastor Byron Bledsoe. No word on whether there are plans for a bookstore.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

Read the complete article at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/realestate/orl-commercial-site-churches-082909,0,19724.story.