LifeWay Christian Stores acquires independent store in North Carolina

Berean Christian Stores anticipates adding new stores this fall as part of the chain’s three-tiered growth plan. Meanwhile, LifeWay Christian Stores has acquired The Salt Shaker Bookstore and Cafe, in Wilmington, N.C., which closed in February. 

LifeWay Media Relations Manager Jon Wilke told Christian Retailing that the chain opened a new store in late May in a different location as The Salt Shaker, but in the same area. The new 4,795-square-foot store is located in a shopping center. 

Claire Efird had owned The Salt Shaker since 1999, and the store was a member of Covenant Group—the country’s second-largest independent Christian chain after Mardel Christian & Education. 

LifeWay operates 15 stores across North Carolina, with 161 stores nationwide. The chain relocated its stores in Charlotte, N.C., and Conyers, Ga., last year, but there were no new store openings in 2012, Wilke said. Before that, LifeWay opened a store in Tustin, Calif., in August 2011. Terms of the Salt Shaker deal were not released. 

Berean, also a member of Covenant Group, has been looking to expand.

“We’d like to add one to two stores this fall, but we are being very intentional in reviewing possible sites and/or acquisitions,” Bill Nielsen, chief operating officer of Berean, said. “We are willing to wait for the right opportunity.

“We have reviewed six acquisitions over the past several months, but none appeared to be a good fit for Berean,” he added. “In regard to new stores, we are in the process of ranking each market in the U.S. to help us determine where we want to be. ... While we have a vision to add 18 stores, we do not want to run ahead of the doors that God opens for us.”

Based in Cincinnati, the chain is nearing the completion of its operating systems upgrade for improved performance and store growth.

“We are very pleased with recent comp store performance, which we anticipate to continue or grow as all stores go-live on our new system by June 1,” Nielsen said. “Our growth plans include a heavy emphasis on same-store sales growth, a new more robust e-commerce strategy and the addition of new or newly acquired stores.” 

Berean—which dates back to 1934—joined Covenant Group in June 2012, increasing the country’s second-largest independent Christian chain’s membership by approximately 50%.

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