California Catholic Daily exclusive
Since 1998, one of the bright spots in the Diocese of Sacramento has been Easter’s Catholic Books and Gifts. Easter’s was founded and is operated by sisters Denise Easter-Kramer and Sandy Easter-Graham, who told CalCatholic in 2009, “Our primary goal is to help re-evangelize the Church.”
To call Easter’s a bookstore is a little misleading — unless we take a step back in time to when bookstores served as a locus for the cultural expression of their communities. Of course Easter’s sells books. And religious items. But it is also an irreplaceable center of cultural Catholicism in the Sacramento area.
Easter’s has hosted events for such Catholic luminaries as radio host and author Patrick Madrid, Chesterton expert Dale Ahlquist, authors Joseph Pearce and Michael O’Brien, actor and pro-life activist Eduardo Verástegui, and Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, editor of Ignatius Press.
Easter’s is also the home of Easter’s Faith Formation Center. From their website: “Easter’s Faith Formation Center (EFFC) provides an extraordinary venue — academic, informational, social — for those who want to enrich their understanding of the Catholic faith. Courses cover Church history, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the thought of John Paul II, the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, Christian ethics, the cardinal and theological virtues, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, end-of-life care, and other theological topics. Periodically, national and international speakers come to talk about everything from radical Islam to Christian witness.”
EFFC classes are always free, although donations are encouraged.
But this bright spot of Catholic life is now endangered. Earlier this year, the sisters needed to move Easter’s from its previous home on Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento to Sunrise Boulevard in nearby Citrus Heights. As anyone who has tried to open a new business, or even move an existing business in the state of California knows, this can be a nightmare. The sisters describe what happened:
“In January of 2016 the building we were renting sold. After many months we’ve relocated to Citrus Heights, about 5 miles from our old location. We began the move Memorial Day weekend May 27, expecting to reopen the store June 1. A previous move in 2007 had been done over a 3-day weekend.”
But it wasn’t that easy. On July 9, the sisters wrote “… we are still not approved to reopen our store. Unable to request an inspection for our license until all items were permanently placed and attaching a detailed floor plan (3 copies to city, 3 copies to fire marshal) requested by the city, we’ve now been notified this spot is not zoned retail….”
That was the start of a bizarre bureaucratic labyrinth that continues to this day. Denise Easter-Kramer told CalCatholic that Easter’s Books and Gifts is now down from seven to four employees, and that their work is supplemented by volunteers. She said “this is about the survival of a small business, supposedly the heart of communities. But I know this will glorify God in the end!”
Fr. Edward P. Pepka, one of the catechists at the Easter Faith Formation Center, writes: “The delays, which seem never to end, are draining (Easter’s) financial resources. The operating expenses total approximately $7000 a month. They expect a signage bill — for a business that may not operate yet — for $4000. They are struggling to pay their employees… All this means that Easter’s is on the brink. I teach in Easter’s Faith Formation Program. Every third Saturday, I meet with a group of people who are eager to take a serious look at some aspect of the Catholic Tradition. It’s a pleasure for me to meet with them and to grapple with various topics –many of which I would not have studied or taught except for this program. It rises or falls with the store. I think that the best theological activity in this area is going on in this program, which is open to everyone who walks in. Can we let such a program collapse?”
Easter’s Books and Gifts has set up a GoFundMe page to tide them over until the move is completed. You can support them here: https://www.gofundme.com/eastersbooks
To learn about Easter’s Faith Formation Center, go here: https://www.eastersfaith.org/
If the owners of the bookstore leased a location for retail use that was not zoned for retail, that will be a difficult mistake to overcome.
Did the owner of the leased space misrepresent the site as zoned for retail use? If so, the bookstore owners have a strong case for a lawsuit to recover damages.
Failing that, I don’t see an easy recovery for the bookstore. Will the city re-zone the site? Unlikely. Can the bookstore break the lease and move to another location? Sure, but it would be costly with more delays.
Difficult corner to be painted into.
Regarding the owner’s comment, “I know this will glorify God in the end!”: while admirable in its hopefulness, seems premature. Should the business be forced to fold, exactly…
Dear Sawyer,
Thank you for your concern, this is a retail center, and houses 3 other retail establishments, in addition to other commercial businesses; alterations, hairdresser, pizza, etc. From what we’ve heard these new regulations would take effect anywhere in California, but are being newly enforced.
We are not alone in this red tape monster, we are aware of other businesses facing the same difficulty. The landlord wasn’t aware of the new regulations, and was also blind-sided by the new requirements of the city.
We also believe that many times the difficulties we encounter are for a much greater purpose. So while we’d run from this cross, we believe we are being asked to carry it, this burden, for our Catholic community…
Denise,
Soon after I opened my catering business I got into a contract dispute that almost destroyed it.. A good attorney saved me! I strongly suggust you find a good land use attorney, hopefully one who has experience with Citris Heights.
Good luck. I’ll pray for your success!
C&H, It is NOT, good land use attorneys, who save us. It is the keeping of the most important contract with God, which is our baptismal promise to reject Satan and *all* of his empty promises. Please reject your sinful action of promoting same sex relations on this faithful Catholic website. Pagan based “luck” and prayer are two completely different things. There is no luck involved in remaining faithful. It means an understanding and a willingness to carry our individual crosses. Visit this treasured little haven to help you to understand how you are breaking your contract with God when you promote same sex relationships. “Cater” to Almighty God, not the devil.
Catherine, C&H gave wise advice about getting a good attorney.
In earthly matters it is prudent to avail yourself of the expertise that others have to offer when you need it. The situation described in this story might call for such expertise.
The Church routinely employs the expertise of lawyers, financial consultants, doctors, tax advisors, fundraisers, marketing consultants, managers, contractors, architects, artists and so forth. There’s nothing wrong with the Church availing herself of the laity’s expertise in earthly matters, and when people use their talent and knowledge to do good, honest, productive work it shows love of neighbor and is an aspect of being a good steward of God’s creation.
Sawyer, You, are certainly one of the most intelligent posters on CCD, but it appears that there is a slight chink in your otherwise extremely commendable armor. A wise stewart recognizes it’s most faithful allies, even before newly discovered permission is given, to all of the sudden recognize it.
Sawyer says:
August 11, 2016 at 8:59 pm
**Anyone who supports the LGBT agenda (normalizing sexual deviancy and related mental illnesses through government and **social coercion)** is either a fool or a tool.**
continued….
Sawyer,
My closest relatives are all lawyers, and speaking on “earthly” terms, they are all working in highly respected positions. I love them and value them because they spoke up in an effort to end the evil scourge within the Church. They also achieved good results! AND they never once thought of charging a penny. Some lawyers saw this as an easy pickings opportunity to make money.
continued……
Sawyer,
This faithful Catholic website is about recognizing the “fullness of truth” of our Catholic Faith. Sawyer, we must first care about our own souls, the souls of each poster and unsuspecting potential readers. Sawyer, the Church would NOT have had to engage as much as it has in the expertise of lawyers and financial consultants had the chief stewards followed it’s teachings and it’s own Canon Laws. Sawyer, Your wisest advice, and I’ll quote your own words, ” Don’t be a tool. ” God bless you, for the excellent posts and commendable work that you do!
But Catherine, even such magnificent and faithful doctors of the Church as Augustine and Aquinas recognized that sinners and heathens could have some truth and wisdom.
We should not disregard truth nor wisdom from any source. Truth does not cease to be truth and wisdom does not cease to be wisdom because it comes from a sinner or heathen.
If we are to attain the fullness of truth we must begin by affirming the partial truth, wherever it may be found.
Disagreeing with someone about something doesn’t mean you have to attack that person all the time about everything. In fact, that is probably quite a counterproductive approach if you have that person’s conversion in mind.
Thank you, and God bless you, Sawyer, your a good man! I love that post!
These ladies sound like fairly business savy persons. they’ve been around for a while. Didn’t they investigate the permit requirerements in the new city? Get a guarantee from the new landlord that the zoning was satisfactory for the intended purpose? If they had a real estate agent, it sounds like possible malpractice.
Dear Mikem,
Thank you for your interest. The landlord, who owns many properties in California, was unaware as this center has been here for many years and is a retail center. We’re not sure where this will take us, if we must wait much longer, but we are investigating.
God bless you!
Thank God Father Pepka is involved! He is an orthodox priest who is very knowledgeable of the fundamentals of the Faith. He holds a doctorate in theology from CUA!
Our thoughts exactly! We are so blessed to have Father Pepka as part of this center.
God bless you!
So interesting! you have a Catholic Governor down the street. Is this another form of persecuting Catholics and Christian business owners. Having owned 2 Catholic bookstores in California this issue never came up. Permits were given in a efficient speedy manner. Liquor liscenses were issued with county support. A letter to the Governor of this fine state in encouraged. City regulators must follow the Law’s including discrimination issues. Call me if needed as we have tried you but only have business phone number. Still praying with a special nudge for a quick resolution.
It may indeed be the Evil One behind all of this red tape. Perhaps someone up high has a grudge against Catholics, or not. We do not battle flesh and blood. We battle principalities and powers in the heavenlies. So let us put on the armor of God to stand firm in these evil days. Highly likely it is a spiritual battle. The battle belongs to the Lord and His ways are not our ways. Let us soldier on because this Easters store is a gem of evangelization in our community. Peace, peace, but there is no peace.