Family Christian Bookstore Chain Shutting Down After 85 Years

[Jerome]

Family Christian, with 240 stores in 36 states, announced Thursday it is closing after 85 years.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...mily-christian-plans-after-85-years/98326140/

The company was founded in 1931 by two brothers, Pat and Bernie Zondervan, who started a bookstore and publishing enterprise. The company gradually expanded, opening other stores in the Midwest. In the 1970s, the company changed its name from Zondervan to Family Bookstores

 

[Jerome]

Interesting history of Zondervan/Family Bookstores:

http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/peter-john-pat-zondervan/

"Pat Zondervan, was the major co-founder of Zondervan Corporation, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the nation’s largest publishers of religious books, including bibles. The other co-founder of Zondervan Corporation was Bernard Zondervan, Pat’s brother. Pat Zondervan was the older brother, and it was probably his idea, to go into the religious book business. Pat went to work for his uncle, William B. Eerdmans, in 1924, when he was only 15 years old. Willliam B. Eerdmans was another religious book seller and publisher, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pat worked for his uncle for 7 years, and then approached his uncle about obtaining a share of the business. That request apparently took his uncle by surprise, clearly annoyed him, and he fired Pat on the spot. Eerdman clearly did not want to share his business with his ambitious and upstart nephew. Pat Zondervan then talked his brother Bernard [Bernie] into going into the religious book selling business..."

 

[MennoSota]

Interesting history of Zondervan/Family Bookstores:

http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/peter-john-pat-zondervan/

"Pat Zondervan, was the major co-founder of Zondervan Corporation, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the nation’s largest publishers of religious books, including bibles. The other co-founder of Zondervan Corporation was Bernard Zondervan, Pat’s brother. Pat Zondervan was the older brother, and it was probably his idea, to go into the religious book business. Pat went to work for his uncle, William B. Eerdmans, in 1924, when he was only 15 years old. Willliam B. Eerdmans was another religious book seller and publisher, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pat worked for his uncle for 7 years, and then approached his uncle about obtaining a share of the business. That request apparently took his uncle by surprise, clearly annoyed him, and he fired Pat on the spot. Eerdman clearly did not want to share his business with his ambitious and upstart nephew. Pat Zondervan then talked his brother Bernard [Bernie] into going into the religious book selling business..."

Zondervan's, Erdman's and Baker's are all out of Grand Rapids. They had outlet stores in GR where the books were cheap and the variety was great. I used to make runs there just to shop for books. I picked up a little prayer book from the 1890's. It was a Christian hedonist's dream. [emoji41]