WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
R&K BOOKSTORE
St. George, Utah
LOCATION
136 East City Center (1976-1983)St. George, UT 84770
36 East Tabernacle (1983-2005)
St. George, UT 84770
(435)673-5478
HISTORY
Ken & KayLene Preston opened an LDS bookstore out of their home in Idaho to supply books to members of the Pella Ward where Ken was the ward librarian. But on a trip through the St. George area, they liked what they saw and decided to move there.In 1976, they obtained a store location in Merv Reber's City Center and opened an LDS bookstore. They called it the R&K Bookstore using the first letter of the names of their children (Richard, Kyle, Kenna and Kayla) who worked in the store as they were growing up.
They business grew slowly as the Preston's gained experience and as the demand for services grew. They gradually increased their inventory and expanded beyond just Mormon titles. They also added services such as special order, mail-order sales, and name embossing.
In 1978, when a laundromat two doors away closed, R&K expanded into that space.
Then again in 1983, the need for more space led the Prestons to move the store up to a new location on Tabernacle street.
Ken Preston became very sick and the store was closed in July of 2005. Ken passed away on September 1.
PHOTOS
TBDREFERENCES
Southern Utah Memories: R&K Bookstore drew loyal patrons from the tri-state area,by Loren R. Webb, July 28, 2013