Brick and Mortar and So Much More

Around the United States there are hundreds of empty buildings where there were once beautiful bookstores. But, there are also hundreds of bookstores that still remain. Yes, the "old" brick and mortar bookstores are still around and many are not just surviving but are thriving. There is no doubt in this time of the much more convenient online shopping that bookstores around the country have to work harder than ever to make ends meet, to serve the public, to pay employees, to be available and to have merchandise when customers come to shop outside their own homes. Those of us who are still standing "after all these years" have much more to offer than just a place to buy a book. When my mother extended the name of St. Mary's Bookstore with the "slogan" MORE THAN A BOOKSTORE, we wanted potential customers to know that inside our doors were not just books, but gifts and church goods and clothing and candles and cards as well. But even more than that and I believe I can speak for "brick and mortar" bookstores across the country, inside our doors there is a place to rest your weary soul, a place to dream of becoming someone more, a place to explore the past, a place to talk and to discuss and to be understood, a place to receive service and a place to be loved.

Just the other day, as customers shopped all around us, a young girl shared the story of her dying son whom she had to place in the hands of God because there was "nothing else the doctors could do". Although the boy was not completely "classroom" prepared, his mother asked if he could receive his First Communion before he died. He did and his mother was awaken early the next morning to what she thought would be the announcement of his death but to what turned out to be a complete turn around in his condition. Many doctors piled into the small room to "see" to believe. I felt completely blessed by this young mom sharing her miracle.

"My sister's in an abusive relationship, can you help me find something to help her?" "I meet with a group of guys and we are looking for something to strengthen our prayer lives." "I have a friend interested in the Catholic faith. Well she is a Catholic but has been away from the church and I don't want to scare her off." "I need you to pick out something to send to my friend who just lost her sister. I trust your judgment." We are so fortunate to have these customers who share their faith and we are grateful to the many great Catholic authors who take the time to spread the faith through their writing...gifts of the Spirit.

I hope that we continue to serve this area as well as the many people who call from out of town to place an order and to talk and to share their lives. I hope that we continue to spend time listening, praying, sharing, serving and loving those whom God puts in our lives. And I hope that this brick and mortar store will remain always "More Than A Bookstore". Brick and Mortar and So Much More.