The sale of Berean Christian Stories to LifeWay Christian Stores has been finalized, LifeWay announced Monday.

The purchase gives LifeWay 17 additional stores, primarily in California, Arizona, and the Midwest. Three former Berean stores in both Ohio and Pennsylvania and one each in Georgia and Montana have already opened as LifeWay stores, while seven stores in California and two in Arizona will open the first week of October. By the end of October, LifeWay will operate 186 stores in 28 states.

LifeWay Christian Stores is owned by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.