It might not have risen to the level of Moses fleeing Egypt, but the S&J Gospel Shop’s exodus from 3308 Bragg Blvd. to Westwood Shopping Center was still a momentous journey. Even though the new shop is only 2 miles away, the old store had been home for 25 years for Jim and Shelby O'Neal.
 

And, of course, moving a business is never easy, especially when the owners needed to keep the customers coming in. (For a two-week stretch at the end of May, the couple kept both stores open.)
 

Wednesday afternoon found Jim doing double — make that triple — duty as he unpacked merchandise while waiting on a customer. Not to mention that the soft-spoken proprietor took time out to speak with a reporter.
 

Although the O’Neals said they may feel a bit sentimental about leaving the place that was so familiar for so long — not only to the owners, but also years’ of customers — the new modern and spacious space seemed to be winning out.
 

“This was just a better location,” Jim said. “After 25 years, the (Bragg Boulevard) store needed quite a few repairs.”
 

He paused for a moment to thank a customer who had just completed a purchase: 
 

“All right, ma’am,” he said, “Come back, and thank you.”
 

While some Christian bookstores may lean a bit on the subdued side — perhaps even libraryish — S&J’s name represents the store quite well. It’s by no means just a bookstore — it’s definitely a “gospel shop,” selling a range of items, including music, videos, gifts and even curriculum materials for Christian homeschoolers.
 

Jim compared it to a Christian Walmart. The shop sells to individuals but a big part of its business comes from churches, which often buy in large quantities. 
 

“We provide whatever the church community needs,” he said. 
 

When the pandemic shut down churches, it hit S&J quite hard, he said.
 

Now with churches open and more people out shopping, the owners said they hope the business will begin to flourish again.
 

In a way, It's a new beginning for a local institution, one built on a solid foundation.