The Parable Christian Store in San Luis Obispo, California, plans to relocate in late January. The store's longtime owners—Steve Potratz, president of The Parable Group, and Laurie Potratz, until recently the store manager—are remodeling their new 2,600-square-foot location in Arroyo Grande, California. The new location opens Friday, Jan. 22, at 931 Rancho Parkway in the Five Cities Center near the Trader Joe’s grocery store.

The couple cites rising rents in San Luis Obispo (SLO) coupled with customer demand by South County residents as reasons for the move.

“We’ve had a successful business in SLO for over three decades," said Steve Potratz, adding it will be bittersweet to leave SLO. "Our customers are loyal and passionate supporters of our retail ministry—sales have been strong. But sadly, we lost our lease and ran into a lack of affordable location options in SLO. We are so thankful that God blessed us with a tremendous location in South County, though—where we have a significant customer base. It’s an opportunity for us to better serve the Five Cities community and nearby churches while positioning ourselves for years to come.”

The couple has owned the retail store since 1981. They purchased Jan’s Bible Bookstore, on Higuera Street, from Jan Ulman after falling in love with the Central Coast while vacationing. They relocated their young family from the Los Angeles area that year and renamed the store The Parable. The business has been a stalwart in the community for 34 years—surviving despite the rise of big-box competition, online shopping and digital books.

“We’re humbled to have served the Central Coast community for so long," Laurie Potratz said. "Our customers are the reason we’ve endured. We’re blessed to help them find the resources and gifts they need and show them God’s love when they come through the door."

The store, which is now managed by Heather Wilke, former owner of the Valley Book and Bible Christian Stores, will hold a huge moving sale in the SLO store now through Jan. 18—including storewide savings of 20-50 percent off. The monthlong sale aims to reduce inventory in books, Bibles, gifts, framed art, home décor, CDs and DVDs in preparation for relocation. The store will close at its current location 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18 to transition to the new location. The new store will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 12:20 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. 

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