OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Cosgrave, founded in 1944, in Omaha is open.
The shop, located near 84th and F streets, offers a variety of religious articles, like sacramental gifts, rosaries, statues, Bibles and church supplies.
Right before the pandemic started, owners Kathy and Tom Koley were gearing up for the busy religious season.
"You start with Palm Sunday, which we were able to get through that, and then of course Easter with the candle vigils," said Kathy Koley. "Easter is a big season for the churches, and then you're going to your communions and confirmations, and that didn't happen this year, because all the churches was closed down right after Palm Sunday."
Churches are now allowed to host group services, but many are still not going and that's impacted the Koleys' business significantly, since 30% of their business is retail and 70% is anything consumable in a church or related to religious services.
"They're not buying the hosts, they're not buying the wine, and who knows if wine will ever be offered to the congregation anymore," said Koley.
"It's kind of hard because you're such a specialty store that you're a destination," Koley said. "People come to you for the religious items or the hosts and the wine, and you just gotta pray that people start going back to church."
Koley says not only are they having a hard time getting items out the door, it's been a slow process getting merchandise in.
"It's hard for me getting stuff from my manufacturer's too, because a lot of them are out east, and so when that pandemic hit, they were the first to close," Koley said.
"And a lot of our vendors overseas now want full payment up front before they'll even ship them," Koley said. "They used to come by air, which was cheaper, but now they have to sit on a boat and come across because you know the pandemic. Nobody's flying."
The shop says it most likely it won't make up the revenue they lost in the first three months of the pandemic and is praying business gears back up soon to stay in business and support its staff.
"We were very fortunate - we were the first people to get the PPP, which helped me keep all my employees, but of course that ran out," Koley said. "So we're just hoping these communions and confirmations start up to help get us by."
The Cosgrave Company
LOCATION:
8222 H St. Omaha, NE 68127
HOURS:
Monday - Saturday: 9AM - 4PM
Sunday: Closed
CONTACT:
(800) 228-9785
