Big Box Stores Closing are Big Opportunity for Churches
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, August 31, 2009
- Viewed 74
- (10) comments so far
What has happened to the 250 Circuit City stores that have closed? Many churches are seeing some great opportunities in these abandoned stores and other run down theatres and strip malls...
Read this from the Orlando Sentinel:
"There are 250 Circuit City stores that have gone dark," said Matthew D. Messier, who specializes in faith-based and nonprofit real estate for CNL Specialty Real Estate Services in Orlando. "Through 'adaptive reuse,' churches have stepped in. ... Because of what's happened with the economy, there are more options for churches now."
The International Council of Shopping Centers has no data to support the trend but said it's apparent throughout the country.
"Vacancy rates are high, and they need to fill those spaces," said Erin Hershkowitz, a spokeswoman for the industry group. "If it's a big box, like a Circuit City, that's a perfect venue for a church."
During boom times, commercial landlords rarely wooed churches. Houses of worship typically draw parishioners the one day of the week when neighboring stores are closed and cannot benefit from the foot traffic. Upstart churches have been leasing empty storefronts for years, though they tend to move on when they outgrow the space or can afford more-attractive quarters.
But shopping centers are now filled with For Lease posters. And unconventional space in high-traffic retail settings has become so attractive to some churches that they are leaving their old sanctuaries for trendier digs.
The Rev. Byron Bledsoe, former pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in east Orange, recalls getting national recognition years ago from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for baptizing new members. But on the flight home from the awards ceremony in Kentucky, Bledsoe said, he knew the church could do a better job of attracting newcomers to Christianity rather than "rechurching" members from other congregations.
So he helped lead an effort to transform the church. It was renamed C3 Church, which stands for Connecting the Community with Christ. It renovated its fellowship hall and soon began attracting newcomers. But Parkway's steepled sanctuary still did not convey the image of a church dynamic enough to draw potential converts to the faith.
"We knew early on that our facilities were a hindrance to what we were trying to accomplish," Bledsoe said. "We had a ton of resources locked up in bricks and mortar."
Working through Messier and Nicholas A. McKinney at CNL, the church in 2007 sold its buildings and 20 acres on Lake Underhill Road for $8million to Eastland Baptist Church, which had lost its property to an interchange expansion at State Road 436 and Colonial Drive.
C3 Church now leases space for its sanctuary from Regal Cinemas in Waterford Lakes Town Center. Its offices are in a three-car garage at Bledsoe's home.
Comments
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CS on Mon, August 31, 2009
Picking up real estate that’s already well-developed for a church is smart. I only hope that they dress up the storefront so that the church doesn’t look like a McChurch or big-box store.
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Tue, September 01, 2009
Or just change the church name to…
I dunno… how about… “Circuit City Community Church”...
NATHANKING on Wed, September 02, 2009
Or just change the church name to�
I dunno� how about� �Circuit City Community Church�...
Cost Associates
StevenPatton on Wed, September 02, 2009
Its funny though, when we started exploring existing properties we discovered that some places have a long standing policy (written over 100 years ago) that prevents them from renting/leasing to churches. The original owners wrote clauses in saying that the property is never to be used for religious purposes. Maybe it was something that was used as negotiation tactic w/ the city to ensure the taxes will always be collected on that property. Maybe its because New Englanders are wacky. Whatever the reason, we couldn’t get into some GREAT properties because land owners didn’t want churches to use the property - ever.
But if you can go in and renovate a KMart or Best Buy or supermarket - you’ve got a HUGE advantage.
Jeff Jensen on Wed, September 02, 2009
@ Steven -
Yeah, just basically because New Englanders are wacky!
Or maybe in spite of New Englanders are wacky… but New Englanders ARE wacky!
Transport on Thu, September 03, 2009
Nowadays there are plenty of shopping Malls are arrived. Near my area there are 4 stores in single street. Car Delivery
Maria on Fri, September 11, 2009
More and more churches are becoming business enterprises and a great location will benefit them. That is why many of those church ministers take a <a href=“http://www.notredameonline.com/online-courses/business-administration-program.aspx”>Business Administration Course<> to be better business people.
Jennie on Fri, September 11, 2009
To be better they take Business Administration Course
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