My how TIME flies!
20 years in a flash . . . 
After nearly twenty years of serving the Edmonton Temple area (and friends from other areas),
Generations LDS Bookstore is closing our doors.
we are 
CLOSING
 

 An independent LDS Bookstore has been in Edmonton for almost forty years since it transitioned from a Seventies project in the Bonnie Doon Stake Centre. It is with an interesting mix of emotions after much time, contemplation and prayerful consideration, that we take the step to close the store.

GENERATIONS has been a big and important part of our family's life. We 

have children who cannot remember life before the store with the tremendous blessings, sacrifices, friendships and opportunities it has brought into all of our lives. Quite literally, it has been 'our life'.

 

We have loved our associations with some of the best people in northern Alberta, and have developed many meaningful friendships that we hope will last long   

into the future as we continue to associate in church circles.  

  

We had hoped to turn the reigns over to someone else, ensuring that the Edmonton

area continues to be served by a functioning brick'n'mortar store. We still believe
there is a viable future for  an owner who has the vision and work ethic required to see the store's continued progression, someone with the same enthusiasm that we had when we bought it. Experience is over rated 

- that comes with time, as we discovered.  

 

However, it has not happened - and here we are, some considerable time after our initial decision to sell it. Although it has been a wonderfully growing 

experience, our season has passed. Thank-you for your friendship, your 

sustaining support, your business, and very often your patience, 

as we have tried to do our best.  


books

We are currently  returning much of our product  to our suppliers, and are not restocking unless for special orders.
 
If there is a specific item you need, that we do not have in stock, we are happy to order it in for you - for a few more weeks.
We'll tell you what we told our kids 
"if there is anything you've been thinking about getting 'someday', now would be a good time to do it. Just because its here today, doesn't mean it will be here next week."      
~ ~ ~
Unless a buyer comes forward in the next few weeks, 
our plan is to be closed by  or before the end of July 2015. 
If you're interested, call or text Dan 780 718 9921

 
our very humble beginning 
our family business
On March 4 1996 our family entered a whole new world. 
We were so naive  and innocent. :-) We had literally NO idea 
what we were getting ourselves into. 

Our oldest was almost 18 years old, our youngest was 6. 
We expected all the kids to work in  store a few hours every week and they 
were convinced we were breaking some sort of law by "forcing" them.
I use the word 'work' very loosely I might add. :-)

Some of our kids were so shy, that they wouldn't talk to the customers. 
My apologies if you remember those days. 
Between customers this was the dialogue - 

MOM :  "You don't have to have a conversation, 
all you have to do is say "HI".  Come on you can do it. 
Give it a try." 

BOY:  "MO-OM! " 
( see, they could employ the power of speech when necessary )

MOM:  "I am serious! You are being rude when you don't make eye contact or say hello. Look up, make eye contact, SMILE and say 'Hello'.  You can do it, just try it. HELLO. 
Say it. It's not as hard as you think it is." 

We started at the basics ..... sigh ....
They did eventually learn to speak bytheway. :-) 

Pictured in the photo above - taken summer of 1998 or 1999: 
left to right - Dan, Zack, Joseph, Sarah, Cindy. Luke in front.
Jacob was serving his mission at the time in North Carolina.  
GENERATIONS LDS Bookstore - Timeline
996 ~
March 4 Monday - we got the keys to the store, just north of the Bonnie Doon Stake Centre. The old GENERATION GAP became the new GENERATIONS
LDS BOOKSTORE. Our very first customers were Becky Prince and Alex Paterson. 
April 1 - also a Monday - we moved into our present location #94, 3907 98 Street, with the help of Peter Fortin, Blaine Hamilton and the missionaries serving in our ward. Dan had taken a month off work in March to get the location ready. He built the Mezzanine, painted and made it liveable. 
April 2 - Generations opened for business in our new location. Our first customer was BRENDA KEYES.
August - I drove to Utah with my son Jacob and my sister Wendy, to attend our first LDSBA Convention. I had never driven that far from home. I have never missed a single Convention from that time to this. IT BLEW OUR MINDS. 

1997 ~
May 4& 5 - Generations brought Marvin Goldstein to Edmonton. Our first 'event'. Riverbend Stake sponsored two Missionary Firesides with Marvin. One Saturday and one Sunday. It was a Great experience. We were scared out of our minds. Thank-you President White for your vision and encouragement. 

1998 ~
January - our first son Jacob left on his mission to North Carolina, Charlotte. 
June - Generations brought up Michael McLean and his son Jeff. Two Concert evenings at the Eva O'Howard Theatre at Victoria Composite.  

September - At the request of our 15 year old son Zack, Generations brought up favourite Author  Chris Heimerdinger - of the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series. He did a reading in the store from his new book - standing room only, and spoke at a fireside hosted by the Woodvale Ward in the Millwoods Stake. 

1999 ~
February - Generations brought up performer Greg Simpson, Concert at the Alberta Museum. Accompanied by Jim Funk. 
May - our family moved to a bigger house in our neighbourhood
October - Artist Greg Olsen at the store signing pictures 
December - EDMONTON TEMPLE opened. For the Open House weekend at the store we brought in Utah Artist Chad Hawkins who had drawn our new Temple. He stayed at our home and we made a good friend that weekend. 

2000 ~
February - our missionary returned :-) 
June - our daughter got married 
September  - Generations brought up the first LDS movie made for main theatres - GOD'S ARMY. It showed at South Edmonton Common. 

2001 ~
Spring - Generations sponsored a local production of THE ARK and brought Michael McLean up to watch it and perform at a Breakfast with Michael 
 
2002 ~
January - we took our 1st scouting trip to visit the Mayan Ruins in Mexico - try to explain THAT one to Rev Canada. We would do another dozen trips thru the store in the years to follow, taking about 300 people with us. 
- our first grandson was born, and died :-( 
June - our first son was married 
September - our second son Zack left to serve a mission in California San Diego 

2003 ~
June - we brought Jericho Road up - Concert at Victoria Comp again. WHAT A FUN CONCERT and weekend that was! 

2004 ~ 
January - we took our first Group to the Mayan Ruins in Mexico 
Spring - we brought Jericho Road up again - this time with  Cherie Call 
Summer - I began serving on the Board of Directors of the Independent LDS Booksellers, and also the Board of Directors of LDSBA. I served for over a decade. 
September - our missionary returned 
December - our 3rd son Joseph left to serve in the California, Roseville Mission 

2005 ~
April - I travelled to Seoul Korea with my sister to visit my niece 
June - we brought up Inspirational Musical Showcase. Concert at the Timms Centre for the Arts. 
July - Luke and I did a Church History Tour with other LDS Bookseller friends. We followed the Life of the Prophet from Sharon Vermont to Carthage with educators Michael Wilcox, John Lund, Wayne Brickey, Susan Easton Black and others. 
October - Generations expanded to nearly double our size - moving into the back bay 

2006 ~
February
- our 3rd son got married 
- Generations - brought up Kirby Heyborne, Concert at the Sub Theatre on the U of A Campus
March 4 - OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 
Spring - Millwoods Stake put on the World Premiere Stage  Performance of musical LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES : I Will Go & Do - directed by Mike Litchfield. Generations brought up writer / director of the film - Dennis Agle to watch it and celebrate.  
December - our 3rd missionary returned 

2007 ~
I served as President of LDSBA 
June - we brought up Sam Payne. Concert at NAIT 
September - Dan and I went to China with several other LDS Bookseller friends 

2008 ~
February - 
- our 4th son got married 

2009 ~
May - TIME OUT FOR WOMEN in Edmonton - Finally! It took 8 years of lobbying to get it here. We sold out. 
July - Luke left to serve his mission in the Philippines - Quezon City  
We decided to live primarily off our food storage to use it up. We had not been rotating properly and now we had no kids at home .... yikes! 
 
2010 ~
Generations began carrying THRIVE Freeze Dried Foods in the store  

2011 ~
July - our missionary returned 
September - we did a major grocery shopping for the first time in over two years.
Our food storage was pretty lean after two years ... 
December 1 - THRIVE LIFE Home Party platform launched in Canada. It took off like a rocket! We replaced our old food storage with THRIVE. 

2012 ~
March - Dan and I travelled to Egypt, Jordan and Israel with LDS Bookseller friends and Educator Michael Wilcox 
December - our baby got married 
 
2013 ~
February -  We decided to put the store up for sale, and announced it thru email
May - Dan & I travelled to the Philippines with Luke and Pam to visit his mission areas   

2014  ~
February - Marvin Goldstein and Brandon Oberhamer in Concert at the Provincial Museum Theatre 
August - I retired from serving on the LDSBA Board of Directors 

2015 ~ In our 20th year of serving the Edmonton area Saints, Generations LDS Bookstore closes 
~ it has been a full and rewarding experience for our family ~
Generations LDS Bookstore 
Unless a buyer comes forward in the next few weeks, 
our plan is to be closed by  or before the end of July 2015. 
If you're interested, call or text Dan 780 718 9921
MEXICO - February 2016 
Some things will not change. 
We are already planning our 2016 Trip to the Mayan Ruins 
in Mexico. We'd love to have you join us.  
group in 2009  
If you'd like to be on the list to find out more about our 2016 trip, 
phone Cindy 780 413 0392 store or 780 461 1498 home  
or reply to this email  
pictured here 2009 trip - Suelzles, Simpsons, Browns, Hills and Hodders 
THRIVE LIFE Freeze Dried Foods
Some things will not change
You will continue to be able to buy THRIVE Freeze Dried Foods thru 
THRIVE WITH CINDY thrivewithcindy.thrivelife.com

Why Thrive?  Have any questions you want help with? phone Cindy @ 780 461 1498 

 want to know more? 

click HERE  
 
THRIVE LIFE foods - does it really SAVE money? 

Thrive Life: Tammy Hogan's Cost Savings from Thrive
Thrive Life: Tammy Hogan's Cost Savings from Thrive
Our wonderful Staff over the years   

 
CINDY & DAN SUELZLE 
Cindy has most likely been the face you've gotten to know over the years as she manages the store. Dan has always been employed elsewhere, but works behind the scenes on keeping our 'books' in order and making 'book runs' to pick up stock. 
 
PEGGY BILLINGS 1996
When we first opened, our good friend Peggy Billings worked for us on Tuesdays. That one day off a week made all the difference in my transition into the store. 

JACOB SUELZLE - started working at the store when he was 18 

SARAH SUELZLE / BURGESS 1996 - 2003 
Our daughter Sarah began working at the store when she was 17, full time when she was 18. She came back from time to time till babies came and made it impossible. It was a wonderful experience to work side by side with her those years.

ZACK SUELZLE 1996 - 2008 
Zack started working at the store when he was 13  

JOSEPH SUELZLE 1996 - 2010
Joseph started working at the store when he was 11
 
LUKE SUELZLE 1996- 2015
Luke started working at the store when he was 6 years old


SUE ANN STEBNER 1999 - 2015
ALAINA SIRTONSKI 
TAMIE MUSSETTER 2003 (?) 

DIANE TOLLEY 2003 - 2011 


  KAY HODDER 2004 - 2015 







DEBBIE BIDULKA 2005 - 2007 
DARLENE ACKROYD 2007 - 
CALYNN GARSIDE 
COURTNEY MCDONALD 

SCARLETT GONZALEZ 


Kalee McGill

KALEE MCGILL 2010 - 2015

HEATHER PETERSEN 


LISA SHETTELL 







MICHELL ANDERSON 2012 - 2014
 


CARLEY BATEMAN 
2014 - 2015






 
OLIVIA BURGESS 2011 - 2015
Olivia is our granddaughter. She is our 3rd generation working at the store. She started coming in to help out at special events from time to time. You may have been lucky enough to buy lemonade from the Lemonade Stand she and her brothers set up in the summer. 
Generations LDS Bookstore
3907 98 St. Edmonton, AB - ph. 780-413-0392
Store hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10-6