Sacred Heart bookstore serves downtown Tampa
Tampa — Father Andrew Reitz isn’t a typical small-business man.
The pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church is more interested in souls than in sales. He’s more likely seen wearing the brown full-length robe of his Franciscan habit than a golf shirt emblazoned with a company insignia.
But for the third time in his 38 years as a priest, Reitz is launching a business affiliated with his parish. The Sacred Heart Gift and Book Store opened this week at 507 N Florida Ave.
“I have no idea how I got into all this except somebody needed to do it,” Reitz said of his three parish stores.
Previously, in New Jersey and Rhode Island, Reitz said people opened up about their lives while browsing for books on grieving or some aspect of their faith.
“I’d even hear an occasional confession in the back of the store,” he said.
Workers have remodeled the 887-square-foot former florist shop next to Sacred Heart with new floor tile, dropped ceilings, fresh beige paint, new shelving and display cases.
Volunteers will staff the store, which is scheduled to operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, for about an hour before the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Reitz came to Tampa four years ago when the Franciscans replaced the Jesuit order, which had overseen the landmark downtown church for 100 years. Next year, Sacred Heart will celebrate its 150th anniversary as the first Catholic parish in southwest Florida.
