By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Salina Diocese “Register”
Jerome Schmeidler’s favorite holiday growing up was Christmas.
The 36-year-old Hays native is experiencing one of his most bountiful Christmases in his seventh year as a local businessman.
Jerome said he knew from the moment he stepped over the threshold of a building in historic downtown this past spring that he had found the new location for his family business.
As he glanced across the glistening wooden floors sandwiched between limestone-lined walls, his eyes caught the beautiful oak staircase leading up to an overhead loft.
“I knew I was home, that this is where we needed to be,” said Jerome, owner of the Messenger Traditional Catholic Store with his wife, Angela.
Now, that wide open space at 115 W. 10th Street – the former home of Pioneer Photography – offers Catholic and Christian articles and gifts for customers both in the store and online. They have plenty of room to browse the store, something that was difficult at the business’ former location in a small mall on Vine Street.
“We knew we were outgrowing the space in the mall, we didn’t have an outside entrance, and our shelves were stacked to the ceiling,” Jerome said. “So finding a larger space had been in the back of my mind for a couple of years. Then this opportunity came up. It’s just all part of God’s plan.”
The Schmeidlers have been busy since opening in June, especially during the holiday season.
“I think the extra space to carry more items has brought more people in, the downtown atmosphere is just so appealing,” Jerome said, “and our online business has been really busy this Christmas.”
The Messenger is filled with an abundance of merchandise – and occasionally the sweet sound of young voices and laughter when Schmeidler’s five daughters come to visit Dad.
Angela is now able to bring their daughters, ages 2 to 9, to the store to visit Dad. The three older girls greet customers as they enter the store, and they even place inspirational notes around the store for customers to read.
There are books and greeting cards, rosaries, statues, Baptism gifts, and a plethora of other religious articles. There even is a reading area in the loft.
The large open floor space optimizes the displays, as does the loft that features large framed pictures and paintings.
A full basement in the 3,400-square-foot building that is more than three times larger than the Messenger’s former location provides necessary storage space and room to package articles for its online business.
“Online has helped us grow, and if things are slow locally, we are shipping to California, New York, Texas, Australia, Canada,” Jerome said. “It’s exciting and challenging. Now, with online, you’re open 24-7.”
Besides taking advantage of the online store, customers often make long drives to shop in person. The Messenger is the only Catholic store of its kind in the Diocese of Salina, which covers more than a third of Kansas.
Tracy Suelter, who grew up in Victoria, now lives near Salina and frequents the Messenger when she is in the Hays area.
“I was raised around the Capuchin friars and the Sisters of St. Agnes – very traditional,” she said, “and I like that Jerome’s store follows that same concept. If he doesn’t have an item in stock that you’re interested in, he does everything in his power to find it.”
Jerome said the Messenger’s theme is definitely traditional.
“We have a passion for keeping books alive; people still like the feel of holding a physical book,” he said. “And the store has been an awesome point of evangelization. Sometimes people want to come in a just talk.”
Jerome said he has adapted well to the move to downtown Hays.
“We love the atmosphere here. There’s so much history down here,” he said, mentioning the brick streets and the sound of trains that pass through on the railroad between Ninth and 10th streets.
Besides providing an excellent venue for their business, the Schmeidlers feel the location is a blessing for their family in other ways.
A large open area allows the young girls plenty of space to play. Angela, who homeschools their daughters, has dibs on another room where she would like to set up a classroom someday.
“They love to come visit Dad, and there are opportunities for them to learn so many things here,” Angela said. “We are so grateful on how well this all worked out.”
The Messenger is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Merchandise can be found online at www.traditionalcatholicstore.com.
