Shortly after moving back to the Valley of the Sun in 2005, I discovered a nice little bookstore at 67th Avenue and Peoria. It was called Crossroads and was owned by Phil Cary and his family. The store had a nice selection of Bibles, books, gifts, CD's and DVD's. The staff was always friendly. They made shopping there a nice experience.
Crossroads, which has been serving the community since 1976, moved a few years ago to a new location - 9069 W. Olive - in Peoria. The store is accessible off the 101 and is located in a shopping center on the southeast corner. A coffee shop was added to the new location; the products and service certainly compare to your neighborhood Starbucks.
The bookstore business has really struggled in recent years. We've seen Borders fall by the wayside. Barnes and Noble is a shell of its former self. Nowadays, folks reason, why get in your car and go to a physical location when you can jump on your computer at home and order books, music, and video and have it delivered to your front door?
Bookstores that have really felt the hurt are the independents - those folks who have often operated stand alone stores. Such owners usually don't have the deep pockets that chain stores have. Their facilities are often not as large and don't feature all the product the chains can offer.
But when the independents close up shop and leave the community, their absence is deeply felt. I sure don't want to see that happen to Crossroads.
If you live on the west side of town, would you go and check out Crossroads Books and Coffee? If you're looking for a Confirmation or Mother's Day gifts, won't you give Crossroads a try? If you're a pastor or leader in a church, would you consider throwing some of your business their way? What they don't have they'll order for you. And you'll meet some really nice people who provide a needed service for folks who are looking for resources designed to enable them to better know and trust in Christ Jesus for forgiveness of sins, power for daily living and the hope of eternal life.
By the way, there's no benefit to me for writing about Crossroads. Although I've spoken to Phil Cary when I've been in the store, I doubt that he really knows much about me, where I pastor and so forth. I'd just like to have a bookstore nearby that I can visit, maybe purchase a book that has been on my radar, so to speak, and then sit down and have a coffee while starting on the first chapter. That's my idea of the perfect shopping experience. If that sounds good to you, consider paying a visit to Crossroads Books and Coffee.
