The Brief
- Bo and Sandy Raulerson are preparing to celebrate 50 years of operating Bartow Christian Books and Gifts in downtown Bartow.
- The couple is also celebrating 60 years of marriage after tying the knot five months after meeting in 1966.
- The Raulersons attribute their store’s long-term success to prioritizing daily service, customer relationships and faith.
BARTOW, Fla. – In downtown Bartow, Bartow Christian Books and Gifts has become more than a small bookstore. For nearly 50 years, Bo and Sandy Raulerson have built it around faith, service and relationships.
“The only thing we have to sell that’s different is service,” Sandy Raulerson said. “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Downtown Bartow bookstore legacy
The backstory:
Their own story started at a fundraising auction. Sandy spent three hours with Bo, then went home and wrote “marry Bo Raulerson, one year from today” on her calendar. They married five months later in 1966.
About a decade later, Bo told Sandy he wanted to open a Christian bookstore. Her answer was simple: “Okay.”…