News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Olivet Book and Gifts owner Mary Rajasekhar, left, chats with Ruby Walterreit while she was picking up a book at the store on Friday. Rajasekhar announced that she is closing the store, but hopes someone else will open a Christian bookstore in the current location.

ALPENA — For 35 years, the Olivet Book and Gift shop in downtown Alpena has offered Christian and inspirational items to its local customers and visitors from out of town.

On Friday, owner Mary Rajasekhar announced that she is retiring and the store will be closing, likely by the end of April.

Rajasekhar said it has been an honor to serve her community and watch generations of families grow up and shop at the store. She said the time has come, however, for her to begin a new journey. She said that journey involves her family and spending more time with them.

“My big reset is going to be that I am going to spend the time that I want with my family,” she said. “I have longed for years to be able to do that. My family is my greatest passion and I am excited for this.”

For nearly 70 years, Rajasekhar said, there has been a Christian bookstore in downtown Alpena. She said before Olivet opened, Adam’s Bookstore was downtown, and not too long after it closed, Rajasekhar opened her shop. Her prayers, she said, are for God to find a person who will want to keep the tradition of having a similar business where Olivet is now.

“If we were not to have access to a Christian bookstore, it would leave a huge hole in my heart, and I believe in the heart of our community,” she said. “I would love to see it remain as a Christian bookstore, but if not that, at least something that is encouraging and something that is going to be inspiring and uplifting.”

Rajasekhar said a closing sale will begin on Monday, and if things go as planned, the store will close before the end of April. She said the store has paved the way for her to meet many wonderful people and make many memories with them. That, she said, is something she will treasure forever.

“Thank you again for your years of patronage, encouragement, friendship, laughter, and some tears,” Rajasekhar said. “I hope our paths may cross often and I will forever treasure the time we have shared at Olivet Book and Gifts, but I am excited to be able to do family things that I haven’t been able to do, and the minutes are slipping away for me to do that.”