Long’s Christian Book and Music Store will reopen July 31 as Long’s Bookstore First Orlando. The store will continue to operate on the campus of First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida, where recent renovations have made it possible for the retail operation to upgrade to a larger space.

Rodger Long will remain the store’s sole owner and manager, even with its location at the church.

“We have an unusual relationship there with First Orlando,” Long said. “We’re the owners. Most church bookstores are owned by the church. They didn’t want it that way.”

The previous store in the church was 400 square feet, open only six hours per week, and, according to Long, it was “a little hole in the wall” shop.

The new store will be over 2,000 square feet and open seven days per week, significantly extending its hours. Long’s Bookstore First Orlando will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extra hours until 8 p.m. Wednesday. The store will also be open on weekends, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Long is hopeful that the new location will provide a “captured audience” that will improve business. He hopes to simultaneously add new customers while retaining his original base.

“The advantage I have over other church bookstores is I have all my customer base and information from my brick-and-mortar stores,” he said. “Once I get settled and take care of the needs there on the campus, I’ll be able to promote and let people know I reopened, and hopefully they’ll come in and support us.”

Though the store’s location has changed, Long’s Christian has served the Orlando community over 50 years.

The store website, longschristian.com, is unchanged and continues to do business. The site reiterates the unchanged calling of Long’s Bookstore First Orlando in both the physical and digital markets: “To provide a resource center to equip the body of Christ to accomplish His mission and to serve God by serving people.”

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