Part of a Rochester, Minn.-based Christian bookstore's roof collapsed at the weekend due to snow and ice, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

A section of the roof over Christian Book & Gift Shop's gift section collapsed Saturday, which, in turn, snapped a water pipe and flooded parts of the store, the Rochester Post-Bulletin reported.

Insurance Brokers of Minnesota agent Lynn Boynton--who estimated that damage could reach as much as $100,000--said that because part of the store likely can be partitioned off, the store will be able to re-open much earlier than other businesses hit by similar situations.

Eight people, three of whom were customers, were in different parts of the store during the collapse, the Post-Bulletin reported. "(The roof) just went 'whoosh,' " said Karen McKenzie, who along with Judy Mulholland, co-manages the store. "God was looking out (for those inside) because nobody was in that area."

Christian Book & Gift Shop will re-open this week in a much smaller space. The store also owns an adjoining building, and it will be used while the collapsed part is under construction, the newspaper reported.

Christian Book & Gift Shop--which started in 1957--was named among the "Top 25 Christian Stores" in 2000 by Christian Retailing magazine and was CBA Store of the Region three times.

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