New Pathway Store Holds Ribbon-Cutting
September 1, 2015—A new concept in retail has been introduced in Cleveland, Tennessee with the grand opening of the new Pathway: Resources You Can Trust.
The former bookstore, which can no longer be accurately labeled as such, opened in a well-established retail plaza in Cleveland late last month, but held a formal ribbon-cutting today. City and County officials, as well as members of the Church of God Executive Committee showed up in force to launch the new Pathway.
This new concept for Pathway marks the next generation in a decades-old tradition of Church of God Christian retailing. In the 1960s and 1970s, half a dozen stores operated primarily in the Southeast. In the early 2000’s, Pathway moved their primary location in Cleveland from adjacent to Pathway Press on Montgomery Ave., to a former Wal-Mart location and opened a mega-store that for several years was the largest Christian bookstore in the nation.
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General Overseer Mark Williams, center right, and Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland hold the scissors to officially open the new Pathway on September 1, 2015 (click photo to enlarge).
Today’s store contains printed books, but also an innovative way to download thousands of titles via multiple stations located throughout the retail outlet. Pathway is designed to appeal to the casual Christian book reader, but is also available as a one-stop shop for church leaders and the resources needed to teach classes, Sunday school or discussion groups. The design also includes a built-in meeting area where small groups are encouraged to reserve space in the store while business goes on around it.
An attractive aspect is the location of a Bonlife Coffee station within the store. Customers are encouraged to order their favorite brew to enjoy while they browse the titles and unique gifts available in the store.
Speaking of gifts, Pathway now offers a specialized line of hand-made gifts, such as bow-ties made from material from Kenya. Other items include a line of lotions, soaps, and candles by Thistle Farms, and a series of quotes suitable for framing.
“This is a magnificent day, both in the Church of God and in the community,” stated general Overseer Mark Williams. “We have been in Cleveland and Bradley County for 111 years and we look forward to the future.”
Terry Hart, general director for the Church of God at Pathway Press, took the opportunity to greet the room full of community leaders to thank those responsible for the realization of the new Pathway, including Clark Campbell and Eric Wilbanks who conceptualized the store.
“This is the first store of its kind in the nation, what we call ‘click and mortar,’” Hart stated. “We give the glory that everything was paid for until we opened the doors.”
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said, “I love this concept…thank you for this re-birth of Pathway. It is an inspiration.”
Secretary General of the Church of God and former general director of Pathway, M. Thomas Propes said, “Publishing is in an evolutionary tsunami…it is continually evolving….It has been, and will continue to be, our (Pathway’s) desire to give the best product at the best possible price. Kudos to Terry Hart and the Pathway staff for this marvelous store
