Alpha Church Supply and Gifts
Owner Danny Bostany stands in the storefront of Alpha Church Supply and Gifts. Photo by Madison Miller.
Growing up, Danny Bostany and his seven siblings had an extra incentive for doing well in school. When students received perfect scores on quizzes or tests in their Catholic parochial school, they were given small religious trinkets as rewards.
“I tell people it was a 10 cent holy card that started the business,” Bostany said.
Shortly after he and his siblings completed school, the Benedictine nuns who educated the Bostanys left Birmingham for Cullman. Bostany and his siblings realized that Birmingham lacked a place to buy Catholic and Christian novelties.
“[We thought] if we’re wanting this, maybe other people are too,” he said.
At a Sunday family dinner, the Bostanys came up with an idea: they would start a church supply store. Bostany’s younger sister, Joanne, was enrolled in UAB’s business school at the time. She decided to create a mock business plan for starting a church supply store in Birmingham. After receiving a high grade, Joanne and her siblings decided to make the plan a reality.
In 1984, she opened Alpha Church Supply and Gifts in her sister Judy’s basement. After hitting hard times early on, Bostany joined the business with the intention of helping his sisters earn enough money to gain back their investment and then close. Once he started, however, he saw its potential.
“Within a few months, I realized that it was probably something that would go if we just [kept] at it,” he said.
The store celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Although it has moved several times, it has been located in Homewood for 20 out of its 30 years in business. It recently acquired a new building after outgrowing its old space on Greensprings Avenue.
The store also enjoys being able to serve a wide variety of churches in Homewood and throughout the Southeast. Eighty percent of Alpha’s business is in items shipping to churches that have become regular customers. They can provide churches with any supply needs from communion wafers to stained glass windows. The store has even helped build a church with its supply resources in the past.
Much of Alpha’s business is with liturgical churches because their ceremonies require specific supplies. However, the store frequently receives orders from churches of all denominations.
“It’s a very nice feeling to know that you were able to be a part of that community’s worship,” he said.
Although online and catalog orders are their largest portion of business, Alpha also maintains a storefront for shoppers to drop in. Their store features Christian gifts that might be hard to find at other Christian gift stores.
“Because we’re a Catholic gift shop, they’re usually looking for sacramental gifts,” he said. “[Cards] for priest’s anniversary or a nun taking final vows… you’re not going to find at Hallmark because they wouldn’t be sold that often.”
Bostany said that his business is particularly lucky with its clientele. The store has rarely taken a loss due to clients not paying bills. Although churches are not immune to tough economic times, Bostany said basic liturgical needs are always important and working with churches usually means working with honest and loyal individuals.
“I’m a big believer in God and God’s will,” he said. “Everything that we did wrong, we were able to overcome. It’s a very rewarding business.”
Alpha Church Supply and Gifts is located at 121 West Valley Ave. For more call 942-5750 or visit alphachurchsupply.com.
