ONTARIO — The Bookery Parable Christian Store will close in February after more than a month-long liquidation sale.
Richland County’s only Christian bookstore began its sale Thursday, Jan. 10 and will remain open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Saturday, Feb. 23.
“Every table, every chair, every shelf, it’s all going to go,” said store manager Tammie Owens.
Among the items for sale are shelves, display cases, handmade tables, books, decorations, jewelry and even an espresso machine. Everything is marked down, and some contests are going on to win items like a television and a drone.
Owens estimated that 75 people were standing in line outside the Ontario-based store before it opened Thursday.
“It was pretty incredible,” Owens said. “And today, it was busy, too.”
She explained that the store’s owner, Mark Stofer is retiring.
The building was sold for $1.7 million in March 2018 to 2300 Fourth, LLC., according to property transfers filed with the Richland County Auditor’s Office. The Bookery in turn leased back the building.
The business itself is still for sale.
“No one’s come forward, but we’re still hoping that someone will purchase the business and keep it here in town,” Owens said.
Stofer added, “I’d love to see the business start up again with a smaller footprint.”
The Bookery has been in Richland County for more than 80 years, Owens estimated. It was bought by Stofer in 1991.
Stofer had started Heritage Christian Books around 1985, and later closed the business after buying The Bookery.
The Bookery moved to its current location, 2300 W. 4th St., in 2002.
“I will miss it… We have our regular customers that come in, and that’s going to be the worst part,” Owens said.
She started working for Stofer shortly after graduating high school. She hopes to find another job where she can work with people.
