wfn.org | World's Largest Christian Book Store Opens in the USA

[APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com]

April 8, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
07/2000

World's Largest Christian Book Store Opens in 
Maryland/USA

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.    After 39 years at 
its crowded 11,000 square-foot building in Takoma 
Park, Maryland, the Potomac Adventist Book and 
Health Food Store will celebrate the grand opening 
of its new facility on April 9. 

In the new location, the store, already cited by 
Christian Retail Magazine as the largest Christian 
book store in sales, is now the largest in 
physical size as well.
 
The 96-year-old store, with a staff of 50 who 
speak seven languages, has accounts with churches 
from 23 different denominations, and is completely 
self-sustaining. 

"We're the community's store for better living and 
we aim to feed the mind, body, and spirit," says 
general manager Clyde Kinder, of the non-profit 
retailer that's a nationally known supplier of 
religious materials, inspirational literature, and 
health food products. Even though the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church operates 52 such stores in North 
America, orders come to this one from around the 
country, even from the White House. 

Kinder expects sales in 2000 to top US$10 million 
due to regularly discounted prices and the vast 
inventory that allows for one-stop shopping to 
meet patrons' church and home needs.

The 40,000 square-foot building, located at 
Orchard Center Mall in Silver Spring, Maryland, 
will house 25,000 books, magazines, religious 
music cassettes and CDs, food, and other health-
related products. The new space has a café and 
water fountain, a 160-seat auditorium, a reading 
area equipped with a fireplace and baby grand 
piano, a Christian greeting card and gift section, 
and a children's department. [Reporter: Celeste 
Ryan]