Family Christian Closes All Stores Nationwide, Including Three in Houston

Citing changing consumer habits, Family Christian Stores this week announced it was liquidating and ceasing operations at its 240 locations nationwide, including three in the Houston area.

“We had two very difficult years post-bankruptcy,” president Chuck Bengochea said in a statement. “Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline. In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market."

“We have prayerfully looked at all possible options, trusting God’s plan for our organization, and the difficult decision to liquidate is our only recourse,” he added.

The company has been in business for 85 years, and has gone through a series of financial crises during its existence.

According to Christianity Today, the writing was on the wall:

Despite $230 million in gross revenues in 2014, the retailer owed more than $90 million. Sales of $305 million in 2008 had steadily shrunk to a projected $216 million in 2015.

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