A local Christian bookstore that has been serving Peoria for over 60 years has announced it will be closing its doors for good. Berean Bookstore in Evergreen Square next to Office Depot and Kroger sent this letter to those on their mailing list last week. It says, in part:
Dear Loyal Customer and Friend,
A HUGE STORE CLOSING SALE will begin immediately to LIQUIDATE EVERY SINGLE ITEM of merchandise in our store to include all Bibles, Books, Church Supplies, Children’s Books & Toys, Spanish Products, All Music, Gifts, Home Decor, Framed Art, Audio & Video, Greeting Cards, Educational Supplies, Demdaco Figurines, Candles, Seasonal Lines, T-Shirts and much more.
We are CLOSING OUR DOORS FOREVER. All of our merchandise, selected store fixtures, furniture, and equipment must be sold . . . .
After 63 years of serving the community this [invitation-only] sale is initiated only after careful consideration. It is our way of thanking you for your business and friendship while at the same time accomplishing our goals.
I remember when Berean was on Knoxville just south of McClure. The place was packed with product — records, tapes, bibles, books, curriculum, and sheet music. There wasn’t very much tacky Christian gift product back then. Since then, Berean has moved to Sheridan Village, and then to its current location in Evergreen Square. And with each successive move, their stock of books and music got smaller, and their selection of tacky Christian gift product got bigger.
You see, gift product has a big markup, whereas books and music don’t. So in order to stay profitable, the “bookstore” became more of a “gift store.” I would have thought they had it made after most other Christian bookstores in the area closed (All That Matters in the Metro Centre, Hidden Treasure in Washington, JC’s in Morton, Mustard Seed in Pekin). But I guess they just couldn’t compete with the huge stock, easy ordering, and quick shipping of internet bookshops such as Christian Book Distributors.
Berean also has bookstores Bloomington, Champaign, and Decatur. No word on whether they are closing as well, or if this only affects Peoria.
Meanwhile, two other area businesses are closing: Tilley’s in the River Station (which lasted just six months) and the Golden Corral in Washington (which left its employees high and dry, closing without notice or explanation).
A friend shared another men’s clothing store that is closing too.
Berean: If memory serves me correctly (and there are chances that it doesn’t), the first Berean Bookstore was not on Knoxville. I think it was in the downtown area–Fulton, Perry–it may have left for Knoxville when the Civic Center was built. The original owners–the Roeschleys–put heart and soul into that business. Yes, I will miss Berean.
From a very small collection of old Peoria phone books I have:
Berean Book Store was located at :
April, 1949 – 507 Franklin, phone 4-9683
Sept. 1959 – 407 N Franklin, phone 4-9683
Oct. 1975 – 2428 N Knoxville, phone 685-5995
I know they were on Knoxville in March of 1972, because I bought my one-and-only King James version there.
My memory doesn’t go back that far, Sharon…. 🙂 The first place I remember seeing them was on Knoxville.
JW — It’s likely that 507 Franklin and 407 Franklin were the same location, as the City of Peoria changed all the addresses in the early/mid 1950s for consistency and ease of emergency dispatch.
According to WMBD radio today, it’s not just the Peoria store going out. Bloomington and Decatur stores also closing, their Champaign store closed last month, and the outlet closed last year.
C.J., you’re right. Your memory wasn’t even born yet. Yes, it was Franklin–thank, JW.
Yes, they were downtown for awhile, then to Knoxville, then to Sheridan Village and then across Lake to Evergreen Square.
I am a former employee and I just don’t get up to Peoria alot anymore, and haven’t stopped in awhile.
I have fond memories of Berean, it was my first “full” time job.
The store will be greatly missed.
Does anyone know when it is closing?
Berean: I’m always amazed how a post on a new topic always brings out new responders–not just those of us who spout off all the time. It always makes me curious about the extent of readership of this blog.
Who keeps 1949 phone books around? I guess in this forum it served an informational purpose.
Who keeps 1949 phone books around?
It’s a look at a place in time, not to mention good information, when you’re a local history geek (like me).
The Peoria Public Library keeps old Peoria phonebooks and city directories…
Sharon – I’m an long-time reader, and maybe twice a spouter-offer.
Precint Committeeman – Historians keep 1949 phone books around. I have lots of old stuff, just in case somebody needs/wants to know something. My question would be, who would want to be a precinct committeeman? j/k
Chris – I’ve been told that the main Peoria Library no longer lets one thumb thru the old Polk City Directories, but they have most of them on CD or microfilm or something.
David P Jordan – Did you go to WHS?
C J Summers – When I made my first post, I was going to add that the city had changed many addresses downtown about that time, but I didn’t know the whole story, so left it out.
David P.,
If your a “local history geek,” why are YOU voting for the museum tax? Seems counter-productive……………….
JW : I can see where a person would utilize an old phone book for research into the history of places and regions. I just had a visual flash in my mind of an old garage with floor to ceiling phone books and some guy running out to find a small tidbit of information he was looking for (from an internet site) Kind of the Doc Brown from Back to the future. No chriticism intended.
As for A Precinct Committeeman I just love all of the freebies I can pick up at the local County headquarters and rub shoulders with the beautiful people.
JW,
David P Jordan – Did you go to WHS?
No, LCHS, Class of 1993.
New Voice
David P.,
If your a “local history geek,” why are YOU voting for the museum tax? Seems counter-productive……………….
What gave you that idea?
JW – Enlighten me about the Polk City Directories–I have spent quite a bit of time lately recearching West Peoria history through city directories. From the late 1800s through maybe 1940, they are on microfilm.
Precinct Committeeman – You just described my ideal fantasy house! I’ve been doing my family genealogy the last 4 years and old phone books come in very handy. I was an election poll watcher once, on the southside in, I think, 1972. Most boring day of my life. I think 10 people came to vote.
David P Jordan – There was a Dave Jordan, WHS, class of ’69. Thought you might be he/him.
Sharon Crews – If you know they are on microfilm at the main library, then you know more than I. I was just told, thru the grapevine, that they had taken the actual books off the shelves due to age and condition. Maybe the directories after 1940 are still available in book form. I have the 1965 and 1968 Polks, if you need something looked up.
David P. Jordan: If you were in LCHS then, you probably knew of my two sons. One was 93 the other 95.
JW it is true that most of the pre-1970 directories are stored in the basement level because of their condition, but all information contained in them is available on microfilm.
I believe all directories are available–I think starting in the 1860s–some on microfilm and others the books. I’m not completely sure that all the information is available–I know I’ve run into some where some of the pages probably were damaged too much to put on microfilm.
I hear from an employee of Berean that it has been incredibly mismanaged by the current owner. Bills don’t get paid and so when they order something for someone they can’t get it because the store owes the vendor money. This has been going on for more than a year from what I am hearing. The rumor of their closing has been going on for almost a year.
It’s too bad someone with some good business management skills doesn’t purchase the store and keep it open.
Ben, if the store is losing money then what do you think they could use to pay vendors. How does someone with good business management skills fix this? If there is no money, then there is no money. All the owner can do is try to pay what they can and hope things get better. In this case it is clear things did not get better. As I read the responses to people like you on business closings it strikes me just how little most people understand about business. A store like the Peoria Berean I am willing to guess needed about $25,000+ per week in sales to keep there bills paid. If they were bringing in less then that there would be no way they could keep their vendors paid no matter how great their manager.