CBA Executive Director Curtis Riskey is closing his own store four months after taking on the leadership of the retailers' association.

The difficulties in running the business from a distance--BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) Books and Cafe is in Oshkosh, Wis., while Riskey is based in Colorado Springs, Colo., where CBA is headquartered--were cited for the decision, announced this week.

Riskey said the 10-year-old, 12,000-square-foot store was closing "with grace and dignity by meeting all financial obligations and without filing bankruptcy." Inventory was being liquidated, he added, with closure due around July 17.

"This is one of the toughest things emotionally I've ever gone through," Riskey said. "A church was birthed in our store, couples had their first dates in the café, and we've had marriage proposals there, but all this pales in comparison to the people who came to know Jesus within our walls."

Riskey moved to Colorado in 2007, when he joined CBA as strategic solutions executive. He was named executive director in March, replacing longtime President and CEO Bill Anderson in a new leadership structure at the organization.

Riskey said the outpouring of support that had followed the announcement of the closure made him "more committed than ever to helping stores grow."

While it had been a personal sacrifice to take on his duties at CBA while still operating a store and to assume greater association responsibilities with the recent change in the association's leadership, Riskey said, he did not regret the decisions.

"Does closing my store signal there's no hope for Christian stores?" he asked. "No, there is hope for Christian stores. But stores will be different. They will connect even more with their local churches and communities."

Click here to read the announcement of BASIC's closure to customers.

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