By Kevin Eigelbach
NKyTribune reporter
Reading the final Facebook posts of the 7 Fish Christian Store in Covington might make you feel a little sad.
When Independence residents Greg and Beth Neltner opened the Latonia store in July 2017, they had great expectations. They hoped not only to make the store a success, but also to open six more stores in the tri-state, one for them and for each of their five children.
Despite high expectations, 7 Fish Christian Store in Covington closed it’s doors in December. Owners say they lost their lease and couldn’t afford to relocate.
They spent about $20,000 to renovate and furnish the first floor of 800 Winston Avenue as a home for the store, Neltner said, plus what they spent buying an inventory of large-print Bibles, cross necklaces, religious statues and children’s Christian books.
Was the time right for opening a store that catered to devout Christians? There was certainly a void in the market. But maybe that was because of lack of demand.
In February 2017, Family Christian Stores, which called itself the world’s largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise, announced plans to close its 240 stores nationwide, including its store in Florence.
According to Christianity Today, the company blamed the closure after 85 years in business on “changing consumer behavior and declining sales.”
The Neltners stayed in business by keeping prices low, which helped out customers with large families. They planned to start advertising the store and to open a second store in Independence.
Their plans came to naught, however, toward the end of December, when their landlord told them she wanted them out of the building. Greg Neltner said they could not afford to reopen the store elsewhere.
“Our five children are just as saddened as we are as their dreams and hard work too have become embedded into the foundation of our family business,” read a post on the store’s Facebook page dated Jan. 3. It was accompanied by two crying emojis.
“I miss this beautiful dream,” read another post in April. Then in August, “What should our family focus be now?”
The store’s unsold inventory now sits in a storage barn, waiting for the day when the Neltners can reopen the store.
“God always knows the next step before I do,” Greg Neltner said. He’s just waiting for God to open the door again.
Phyllis Moser stands behind the counter of The Christian Store in Fort Mitchell, where you’ll find her most days (photo by Kevin Eigelbach).
Meanwhile, a few Christian stores have kept their doors open in Northern Kentucky, including Logos Christian Bookstore at 8131 Alexandria Pike in Alexandria and The Christian Store at 2489 Dixie Hwy. in Fort Mitchell.
The owner of Logos Christian Bookstore declined repeated requests for an interview. According to the store’s website, it’s a part of the Christian Booksellers Association, which calls itself the largest member organization in the Christian products industry.
Independence residents Phyllis and Steve Moser mortgaged their house to purchase The Christian Store in June 2017. She had read in The Messenger, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, that the two women who had opened the store 36 years ago deciding to sell it.
Phyllis Moser had patronized the store for years.
One day, she came in to tell the owners goodbye and on the spur of the moment asked one of them what would happen if she wanted to buy the store. She believes the Holy Spirit inspired the question and prompted her to follow through with the purchase.
She has found that most of her customers are Catholic, she said, but she doesn’t want the store to be known as a Catholic store. There is one strictly Catholic store in Northern Kentucky, Ave Maria Books & Gifts, which opened July 2016 at 8605 Haines Drive in Florence.
At The Christian Store, the biggest seller is medallions of various saints, but Phyllis has also added a lot of books she hears talked about on Sacred Heart Radio, which has three tri-state Catholic, listener-supported radio stations, including one in Newport.
Becoming a storekeeper was a big leap for Phyllis, who had previously worked as a graphic designer. She enjoys it when customers come in and tell her how peaceful the store is.
They often tell her their troubles, and she’s OK with that.
“It’s beneficial to know we’ve got God,” she said. “Something to fall back on other than ourselves.”
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com
