Tree of Life Bookstores, Marion, Ind., has consolidated its operations in a larger facility and is planning a grand opening October 24.The company had previously operated from four locations in Marion, but now its bookstore, corporate offices and distribution center are unified, with the exception of the IWU Bookstore in Barnes Student Center at Indiana Wesleyan University, which remains in place. A coffee shop, the Abbey Coffee Co. is also connected to the bookstore.
The new space is "set in a renovated strip mall previously owned by K-Mart and Hobby Lobby, will not only be bigger but will also offer more to Marion residents and Indiana Wesleyan University students," the Sojourn reported.
"There aren't really any bookstores in Marion that sell new, retail books," said Tree of Life director of marketing Patrick Eckhardt, noting that the new shop will focus primarily on books, whereas the old one specialized in small gifts and "knick knacks."
"We want to have a fully fleshed-out bookstore," he added. "We want to feel like a bookstore. Missionally speaking... if someone's not a Christian, are they ever going to come into a Christian bookstore? No. There is a possibility, however, for a non-Christian to walk into a mainstream bookstore that happens to have a 'really healthy Christian section.' "
