Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Brodal.
Hi Riley , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Covered Bible Bar began as a prayer in 2019.
Founders Jen and Riley, originally from North Dakota, have always loved gift shops and boutiques—places filled with beauty, creativity, and connection. But over the past seven years, their lives were also marked by deep loss, including the passing of Riley’s dad, Jen’s husband, and Jen’s mom, Riley’s grandma. Through grief and trial, their faith deepened, drawing them closer to God and ultimately giving birth to the vision behind Covered.
The idea began to take shape after a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they visited a cowboy hat bar and were inspired by the interactive, creative experience. That spark—combined with memories of a gift shop–deli style boutique they once loved—led them back to a prayer they had been carrying since 2019: to create a Christian-centered space for meaningful, intentional gift-giving. Not a church, but a welcoming touchpoint for Christ. A place for fellowship, creativity, and conversation. A place where believers could gather and where those curious about faith could feel comfortable, included, and seen.
Covered was envisioned as a store and community space offering creative Christian merchandise, immersive Bible studies, and opportunities for people to connect—both with one another and with God. As naturally creative people, Jen and Riley began designing hands-on, tactile Bible experiences that bring Scripture to life in memorable ways.
The journey to opening the doors was nothing short of miraculous. In May 2025, they moved to Katy, Texas, selling their home and consolidating their lives into a U-Haul—three pets included—without knowing a single person in the Houston area. Still, they felt strongly that God had called them there. That calling has been continually affirmed, especially as they learned Katy is home to more than 500 churches and experienced the warmth and hospitality of their church home, Katy Community Fellowship.
Covered Bible Bar officially opened on October 23, 2025, and has since grown into a vibrant creative and spiritual hub. The space hosts immersive Bible studies in its conference room, offers curated gift items, and specializes in custom Bible design. At the heart of the concept is the “Bible Bar” experience: guests select a paperback Bible translation, choose from more than 28 cover designs, add up to two ribbon bookmarks, and personalize the inside covers with thoughtfully designed inserts. With a collection of over 200 faith based and family oriented patches—many designed in-house—guests can also customize notebooks, trucker hats, and beanies.
The mission is simple but powerful: to provide a creative space that builds confidence in sharing faith. Jen and Riley believe that when the outside of a Bible is beautiful, it can become a conversation starter—especially for those newer in their faith or rediscovering Scripture. “We believe the Bible should be as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside,” they share.
Beyond the storefront, Covered actively participates in local markets and partners with ministries throughout the community, spreading the Gospel through creativity and connection. Looking ahead, they hope to grow into another part of the original prayer: adding a coffee component featuring Christian-themed drinks and soda mocktails. That vision is already beginning to unfold through a partnership with a local coffee entrepreneur—supporting another small business while serving the community.
Today, Covered Bible Bar stands as a testament to faith, obedience, and God’s faithfulness—an ever-growing story rooted in prayer and carried forward by purpose.
Located at:
1325 Main Street, Suite 504
Katy, Texas
Immersive Bible studies include:
Bible Charm Chain • Bible Fringe • Prayer Ornament • Dry Bones Come Alive
Each experience is tied to key passages in Scripture and designed to help believers engage God’s Word in creative, tangible ways.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road—and we wouldn’t expect it to be. Picking up your entire life and moving across the country after living in one place your whole life is incredibly challenging. There were moments that felt overwhelming, especially alongside the grief we’ve carried from losing the people we loved most. But in many ways, those losses clarified our purpose and strengthened our resolve to share the Gospel.
While the journey has been physically, financially, and emotionally demanding—from lifting and building everything ourselves to taking a leap of faith into business ownership—God has met us at every step. Financially, it required trust. Emotionally, it required courage. Physically, it required more strength than we knew we had. But through it all, God gave us a new and unexpected peace.
Leaving behind familiar people and places was hard, yet what we’ve found in Katy has been nothing short of a gift. The community has welcomed us with open arms—through our church, our customers, and the everyday kindness of people we meet. Even though we haven’t been here a year, we already feel deeply connected.
This journey has stretched us, refined us, and reminded us daily that Covered is built on faith. And because of that, we remain grateful, encouraged, and confident that God is faithful to provide—just as He always has.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Covered Bible Bar?
At the heart of Covered Bible Bar is the Gospel: that Jesus Christ came to bring hope, healing, and new life, meeting each of us right where we are. We believe God’s Word is living and active, and that through Scripture, hearts are restored, faith is strengthened, and lives are transformed. Everything we do flows from a desire to invite people into Jesus truth in a way that feels personal, beautiful, and approachable.
Covered Bible Bar is a creative, faith-centered boutique and community space where Scripture and creativity meet. We are best known for our Bible Bar experience, where guests can design a Bible from the inside out—selecting a translation, choosing from more than 28 custom cover designs, adding ribbon bookmarks, interior inserts, and meaningful details that make God’s Word feel uniquely their own.
A unique part of the Covered experience is our collection of over 200 iron-on patches to choose from, most of which we design in-house. These patches can be added directly to Bible covers or purchased individually for personal projects. Each design is intentionally created to spark conversation—some reference Scripture or biblical themes, while others reflect wholesome hobbies, seasons, nature, and food. They’re often the starting point for meaningful dialogue and a gentle way to express faith visually.
In addition to creating new Bibles, we also specialize in Bible restoration and rebinding. Guests may bring in a well-loved Bible to be recovered in one of our custom designs or choose to have it restored using personal fabric—such as a loved one’s clothing or meaningful textiles—transforming it into a tangible heirloom of faith. These restorations are some of our most sacred and meaningful projects, as they preserve both Scripture and story.
What sets Covered apart is that we are not pastors or theologians—we’re everyday believers creating space for real people. Covered is a come-as-you-are environment where no one is expected to have it all figured out. Questions are welcome. Curiosity is encouraged. You can walk through our doors exactly as you are.
At the same time, we are unapologetically rooted in the Bible. God’s Word is our foundation, and everything we create—from our Bible designs and restorations to our immersive studies—is anchored in Scripture. We believe the Bible is living, trustworthy, and relevant, and we allow it to speak for itself.
Rather than leading with preaching or pressure, we lead with presence, beauty, and relationship. We believe when people feel safe and seen, they become more open to encountering truth. Covered is intentionally and prayerfully designed to spark curiosity—to open conversations, encourage Scripture engagement, and create space for the Holy Spirit to work.
Our hope is that Covered feels like an open door: a place where faith feels accessible instead of intimidating, creativity draws people in, and the Gospel is shared with gentleness, clarity, and love. We simply create the space and extend the invitation—trusting God to do the transforming work.
We are also known for our immersive, hands-on Bible studies hosted in our event space. Experiences such as Bible Fringe, Prayer Ornaments, Dry Bones Come Alive, and Bible Charm Chains connect tangible creative activities to key passages of Scripture, helping participants not only read God’s Word, but interact and sit with it in meaningful ways.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is that Covered is rooted in obedience and purpose. Every design, service, and gathering is prayed over. We partner with local ministries, support fellow small businesses, and take Covered into the community through markets and events, all with the intention of sharing the Gospel through creativity, hospitality, and relationship.
We want readers to know that Covered Bible Bar is more than a boutique—it is a space where faith is made visible, Scripture is honored, and people are reminded that God’s Word is as alive and beautiful today as it has ever been. Whether someone comes to restore a cherished Bible, design a new one, attend a study, or simply explore, our prayer is that they leave feeling encouraged, welcomed, and drawn closer to Christ.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What we love most about Houston is the people. There is a hardworking, confident, and genuinely kind spirit here that we’ve felt from the moment we arrived. Coming from a tiny town in North Dakota, we’ve been inspired by the diversity, ambition, and openness of the community. People are welcoming, encouraging, and willing to support one another, which has made this city feel like home very quickly.
If we had to name one challenge, it would be the traffic—which can definitely feel intimidating at first, especially for two girls coming from a small town. That said, it’s a small trade-off for everything else Houston offers. Overall, we are incredibly happy and grateful to be here. We even love the heat—after North Dakota winters, we’re still thawing out—and feel truly blessed to call this city home.
Pricing:
- Covered Bibles start at $25-30
- Immersive Bible Experiences start at $30 per person
- Conference Space Rentals Available
- We travel to markets and ministry events
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coveredbiblebar.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/coveredbiblebar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/617374671469074?ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covered-bible-bar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoveredBibleBar
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@covered_bible_bar
