Nov 16, 2009
An era ends: In January, Jack’s gift shop to hang a final ‘closed’ signBy Deborah GatesDelmarvaNow.com

Salisbury, MD — Stuffing a half-century of memories into boxes scattered around Jack Savage’s office was no easy task. But then, it’s just as tough saying goodbye to the Christian gift shop the stocky, white-haired Savage launched as a lanky teenager in his bedroom at his parents’ farmhouse.

After 50 years, Savage and his business partner and wife for almost as long, Ruth Ann, are retiring and closing Jack’s Religious Gift Shop on Snow Hill Road, ending an era for one of the region’s oldest surviving independent retailers that for years was the Lower Shore’s primary source for Christian-oriented books, music, novelties and supplies and church furnishings.

“Different ones have talked about buying the business, but nothing serious,” Jack Savage said with a shrug. He sat in his shop office last week behind a desk stacked with photo albums, scrapbooks, framed awards and other mementos. “October happened to be a good month for us — sales were up by 36 percent over this time last year. Some months were down. But we’re closing not because of the economy, but because we’re retiring.”

The anticipated Jan. 16 closing comes in the midst of a recession while traditional religious denominations nationwide grapple with dwindling memberships. It will leave Salisbury with two recognized retailers of religious merchandise: The Gospel Shop and the national chain Family Christian Stores, which opened a year ago.

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