SCOTTSBLUFF – Jeanette Kniss is the owner of the Bible Book Shop, located at 14 East 16th Street in downtown Scottsbluff. Kniss purchased the store in 2007. The Bible Book Shop has been in operation since 1948. Kniss, who graduated from Bayard High School in 1974, has been married to Greg Kniss for 46 years. They have two adult children: Andrea, who lives in Pennsylvania, and Scott, who lives in Gering. Jeanette and Greg have four grandchildren. After living in Bayard for a number of years, Jeanette and Greg moved to Scottsbluff, where they’ve been for the last 11 years. Before purchasing the Bible Book Shop, Jeanette worked part time in healthcare and later focused mainly on teaching piano lessons.
Q: Talk about how things have been going at the Bible Book Shop this year.
KNISS: “Well, like most other businesses, it’s been a different year because of COVID. Fortunately, we’ve been able to keep our doors open the whole time. It’s only because of God’s grace and His provision that we’ve been able to keep going. I’m also really grateful for all of our customers. I have the best customers. Almost daily I hear, ‘We love this store. We love coming here. Please don’t ever close. You have the neatest things in this store.’ That really gives us encouragement.”
Q: Are there any new items that you’ve recently started carrying at the store that have been pretty popular?
KNISS: “Yes. Earlier this year we started carrying a unique line of cards – for any occasion – that supports a ministry for feeding hungry children. People love the cards, and they love the idea that there’s a ministry attached to every card they purchase. They’re well designed cards that include scripture along with very nice inspirational messages in them. Plus, they’re very affordable. We have hundreds of counter cards as well as boxed cards to choose from, including seasonal and special occasion cards.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed owning the store the last 13 years?
KNISS: “I would rather be here than almost anywhere else. I love my job. Most of the time it doesn’t seem like a job to me because it’s more fun than it is work. There’s such a variety of things to do, so I never get bored. I love the ministry and all the people who come in. I enjoy the business side of it, too, because I’m kind of a ‘numbers’ person. Also, every time freight comes in, it’s like Christmas because it’s so much fun opening all the new items that arrive.”
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