CRANSTON — On Monday, May 11, the oldest family-owned church supply store in New England re-opened their retail showroom in Cranston. Tally's Religious Gifts and Church Supplies, the 141-year-old business on Pontiac Avenue, faced difficult decisions over the past few months — out of caution of the COVID-19 crisis — but opening their doors again was not without preparation and caution, explained owner PJ Tally.
“My brother Tom, our store manager Debbie and bookkeeper Joanne spent the previous week preparing to reopen. We are all a bit nervous about interacting with the public. We have followed Governor Raimondo’s guidelines for Reopening Rhode Island. These include face covering for all, Plexiglas at the counter, new contactless payment and a limited number of people in the showroom.”
After closing the showroom in March, Tally shared that the decision was not without challenges and heartbreaking choices.
“Tally’s had to lay off two employees after we closed the showroom. This is the first time that I ever had to do that. The experience was painful.”
He added that with the restriction of public Masses, certain items for parishes were just not needed at the time.
“There is not a creative way to sell the products when these sacramental celebrations have been postponed. So we patiently waited for Phase 1 of retail reopenings in Rhode Island."
As tough as it has been for many local businesses, Tally’s has encouraged the faithful to remain hopeful and prayerful. Through social media and the website, the store offered helpful options for available products that included reading prayer guides like Magnificat or missals to accompany a live stream Mass from home.
“Our devoted customers find solace in praying with the universal Church during times of crisis. We have always offered these prayer guides in the showroom. Facebook posts and updating our website helped us reach more people. This was comforting for all of us at this time.”
Throughout the pandemic, staff that remained continued to work limited hours serving church customers. Patrons were encouraged to browse the website and call to place an order for curbside pickup. Tally added that inventory always remained stocked with gifts for RCIA candidates, confirmation and first Holy Communion.
“There was a mixed response to curbside pickup prepay option. Most customers were following the stay at home directive so we ended up mailing devotional candles, statues, patron saint medals and rosary beads to people who would usually visit our store. And we made more deliveries to local churches. Many of our regular customers are like family.”
With the “new normal” coming to many of the ways faithful take part in Mass and other liturgical events, Tally’s continues to offer items that will assist parishes as they navigate new guidelines, such as pew reservation ropes, reserved signs and deposit boxes for offertory collections.
“The need for them has been renewed. Plastic holy water bottles sales have increased with holy water fonts and receptacles empty. We stock an extensive inventory of devotional candles. The faithful continue to light candles at churches that are open during the day.”
The store has been a staple in the religious community for many years, and Tally explained that it’s more than a job — it’s a vocation.
“Operating Tally’s Church Supply and Religious Gifts is more than a job for all of us. Supplying churches and lay people with the tools to worship is our ministry as well.”
The store’s new “Pray” and “Hope” face masks are an example of sharing this message of faith with the greater community. The washable masks, available in purple or blue, sell for $20.
“Theological Threads, a vestment maker, started making face masks in the middle of March. The owners of the company donated them to hospitals and first responders in the Beverly, Massachusetts, and Boston area. Local grocery stores and other businesses ordered masks to protect employees. These unique face coverings are professionally sewn to CDC guidelines. Tally’s is supporting one of our longtime partners.”
The store hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tally’s is closed on Sundays. A maximum of five customers are allowed in store at one time. Customers must wear a face covering to enter the store and respect the distance of other patrons. Curbside pickup is still available.
For more information, visit www.tallys.com.
