Mennonitische Post bookstores set to close in Steinbach, Winkler

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This article was published 30/08/2023 (641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Mennonitische Post bookstore will be shutting its doors for good next year according to the Mennonite Central Committee.

As of March 31, 2024, both stores in downtown Steinbach and Winkler will be closing, said Kennert Giesbrecht, managing editor of Die Mennonitische Post and manager of the Steinbach store.

Started in the early 1980s, the book ministry was started by MCC to improve literacy and access to books in Low German-speaking communities in Canada, the United States and South and Central America. Many of those communities had little or no access to electricity, the Internet, libraries or bookstores.

“We always knew eventually this would probably shut down,” Giesbrecht said. “More and more of those communities nowadays have their own libraries, they have their local bookstores, so they don’t depend on us largely anymore.”

Multiple other factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the expiration of a rental agreement contributed to the decision to close the stores.

Die Mennonitische Post along with Das Blatt children’s magazine will continue as usual after the closure of the brick-and-mortar stores. The paper is printed and distributed biweekly, while the magazine is published monthly.

Giesbrecht said some communities may be impacted by the initial loss of the store.

“They trusted us by now after decades of good, reliable service,” he said. “All of that will be missed but I think eventually they will just find other places where they can find these books.”

The store carries literature in multiple languages including Low and High German, English, Russian and Spanish. Customers can find Mennonite history books, colouring books, CDs, DVDs, Bibles, song books and cookbooks on the shelves.

Giesbrecht said the main customer base is now mostly locals that have immigrated from Germany in the last few decades, but that they also frequently ship books to Mexico, Belize, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina.

The Steinbach location employs seven staff, three of which work full-time. The Winkler location is run largely by volunteers and one part-time manager. Five roles will be discontinued. MCC said in a statement that they are “committed to treating all employees fairly and generously during this transition.”

Giesbrecht feels the book ministry has done well and accomplished its goals, but it’s just time to move on.

“I just want to thank the local community for the support,” Giesbrecht said. “They have supported a larger ministry, the MCC ministry almost unknowingly. By buying books here, they got good stuff to read but also helped support the ministry of MCC.”

Book sales will continue as usual as staff create a plan to sell or distribute the remaining inventory, with potential for discounts and some stock being shipped to communites in North, South and Central America.