Christianbook, in partnership with Oliver Street Capital, Bain Capital Real Estate, Fraser Project Management, Dacon Corporation, and the city of Peabody, recently celebrated the completion of an 82,790-square-foot warehouse adjacent to its corporate headquarters. The expansion increases warehouse capacity, eliminates off-site storage, and enhances logistics with eight additional receiving docks, enabling more efficient management of over 100,000 products.
The steel-framed structure features insulated precast concrete wall panels designed to complement the masonry veneer banding of the existing building. Christianbook, founded in 1978 by two brothers in their parents’ garage, has grown into one of the nation’s leading distributors of academic and faith-based literature, offering over 500,000 titles along with clothing, accessories, home décor, music, stationery, and homeschool products.
“Christianbook provides meaningful employment for hundreds of valued employees,” said David Fowler, vice president of strategy and research. “Our purpose and sense of community are reflected in our Top Places to Work awards and initiatives like our annual Pastor Appreciation Day. The USO Reading Program exemplifies our mission of equipping individuals to bring positive change to life.”
Philanthropic Partnership Supports Military Families
To mark the warehouse’s completion, 370 people attended a celebratory event that featured a philanthropic initiative, 150 handwritten notes of encouragement from Christianbook employees, and ice cream sundaes from Treadwell’s.
As part of the celebration, Christianbook and its project partners sponsored 200 military personnel through the USO Reading Program. This initiative allows newly deployed service members, including those from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., to record themselves reading a children’s book at any USO Center in a conflict area. The recording and book are then sent to their families, offering emotional support and connection during deployment.
Military families often face challenges related to separation, with children experiencing increased symptoms of sadness, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. The USO Reading Program provides a vital source of reassurance, helping to ease emotional stress.
“It is no small accomplishment to make a war zone disappear,” said Lauren Nowicki, chief communications officer at Dacon. “This program demonstrates how the simple act of reading can lift morale through communication, comfort, and connection. On the battlefield, any initiative that adds normalcy is a worthwhile endeavor.”
In 2023, the USO Reading Program was used 30,000 times by service members. Founded during World War II, the USO remains the nation’s leading military support organization, operating more than 250 centers across seven continents through private donations and volunteer efforts.
