Ed Lindsay remembers when Adventist books were sold from a tennis court tent at Washington Adventist Camp Meeting.
“It rained just before camp meeting that year,” Lindsay recalls. “One of my chores was to tighten the ropes as things dried out.” Lindsay’s experience in working for the Adventist Book Center as an assistant manager in the early 1970s would translate into a career in the Christian book industry. During the past 19 years, Lindsay served as an Adventist Book Center manager in northern California.
Just before Lindsay attended his class' 50th reunion at Auburn Adventist Academy, he called his vegetarian food product vendor, Alex Lingas. They discovered they would both be in the Seattle area about the same time as Lingas prepared to purchase Auburn Adventist Book Center (currently called Auburn ABC, but may have another name in the near future).
“In jest, Alex said that I should come work for him," Lindsay recalls. "That planted a seed-thought. My wife and I prayed about it and felt a connection here.”
Lindsay, as the new manager for the newly independent bookstore, and his wife, Lila Sumrall-Lindsay, like the changes in book selection and food products they are seeing in the store and constant factors like friendly staff.
As the store moves forward, it plans to add new features such as organic produce, fresh bakery items and everyday market essentials.
“We would like to expand the role of the store to not just be operated as a typical retail store, but also to be a place where the community can learn more about how they can take better care of their body,” says Lingas.
Dennis Carlson (left), from Washington Conference, hands off the Auburn ABC business to Alex Lingas (right). Lingas plans to work with Herman Schreven, Spokane Adventist Book Center representative, to fulfill ABC-specific services like online orders and subscriptions.
Ed and Lila Lindsay are "coming home" to Auburn to manage the Auburn ABC.
You'll find more healthful food items in the independently owned Auburn ABC store.
The Auburn ABC staff are working hard to make sure the store's ownership transition happens seamlessly.
Auburn ABC has a new owner and new products.
