A national retailer of Christian books and merchandise is closing its stores, including seven locations in Colorado.
Family Christian, which operates 240 stores in 36 states, blamed “changing consumer behavior and declining sales” for the .
“We have prayerfully looked at all possible options, trusting God’s plan for our organization, and the difficult decision to liquidate is our only recourse,” said Chuck Bengochea, president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, in a statement Feb. 23.
, staving off liquidation and to keep the doors open. But, ultimately, it wasn’t enough to save the not-for-profit business.
“Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline,” Bengochea said in the statement. “In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market.”
The chain’s seven Colorado stores are in Aurora, Westminster, Lakewood, Thornton, Greeley and Colorado Springs, according to the .
On Monday, employees at the Aurora and Lakewood stores said they had not been notified of their stores’ official closing date.
