Regarded as one of the largest Christian bookstores in the country and advertised as the largest in the South, Pathway Bookstore in Cleveland, Tenn., closed its doors Jan 14.

Operated by the Church of God (CoG), the store ran for many years in a smaller location at the organization's publishing house building in Cleveland, but then the Pentecostal denomination opened a reported $2.5 million, 30,000-square-foot facility in August 1999.

"Due to the uncertainty of the economy, and after much deliberation, the leadership of Pathway Press, its board of directors and leadership of the Church of God have made the difficult decision to close Pathway Bookstore, effective immediately," said Scot Carter, director of CoG's Department of Communications.

Pathway Bookstore directed customers with gift cards and layaways to a Web site that CoG will continue to maintain. "We will continue to be available to serve the community at www.pathwaybookstore.com," Carter said.

CoG, which plans to sell the existing property, said re-opening the bookstore in another location was "under consideration, but ... no firm plans are in place."

White Wing Christian Bookstore, located near Pathway Bookstore, has reported an increase in sales since the closing of Pathway. Store manager Cliff Anderson told Christian Retailing that White Wing plans to expand to accommodate new customers.

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