Francis Davis opened the Christian Book and Music on the corner of Douglas and View streets back in 1939 B次元官网网址� the day Canada declared war, according to the latest owner.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more than a bookstore,B次元官网网址� said Mike Easton, owner of the shop now on Nanaimo Street, that marked 80 years in business on Sept. 10.
Easton grew up working at the store as his parents bought it from the Hamilton family in 1975 when he was 11. When his parents semi-retired, he took over B次元官网网址� although they still make deliveries as far north as Nanaimo every Wednesday. EastonB次元官网网址檚 wife and self-proclaimed book fanatic, Melanie, worked in the store as a teen before becoming a teacher and she has since returned to work at the bookstore.
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Easton has seen many changes over the years as the store has moved seven times, a Nanaimo location opened and a Duncan location closed. He and Melanie are hopeful the current Victoria location on Nanaimo Street will be the last as the move was tough.
Now, the store has a cafe, a music section, a kidsB次元官网网址� corner, a used book nook, gift wrapping, a prayer team and warehouse space that several groups use for worship. He refers to the store as a focal point in the local Christian community and for folks across Canada. With the addition of a website, the EastonB次元官网网址檚 have been able to reach customers in northern B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.
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When the Catholic bookstore downtown closed, Easton made it his mission to carry products for the local Catholic community too.
The store serves as a gathering place for residents of all ages and all faiths, Easton explained. He noted that being a part of someoneB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址減ilgrimage to faithB次元官网网址� is a special thing.
EastonB次元官网网址檚 children have chosen not to run the bookstore after he retires and eventually he will need to sell the store. HeB次元官网网址檚 hopeful that a new owner would share the same vision and heB次元官网网址檚 excited to see what the next 80 years will look like.
The storeB次元官网网址檚 80th anniversary will be celebrated with a sale that runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 14 and Easton is hoping to also have a little party with cake in mid-October.
devon.bidal@saanichnews.com
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