About us

Watra was founded in the depths of the depression by the Skupien family in 1935. It's humble beginnings were that of a local card and gift shop. It has since grown to a full service religious goods and articles store.  Our services have expanded from Religious Goods and Church Supplies to now offer an in-house liturgical consultant, an in-house Religious Art Studio as well as an in-house Custom Liturgical Furniture Woodworking studio.  We have the ability to design, create and fabricate and number of original pieces from bronze or fiberglass statues, wood hand carved statues to custom Altars, Ambos, Baptismal Fonts, Presider's Chairs and even Bishops Croziers.

The store occupied its original location at 22nd and California in the City of Chicago until 1986, when it was moved to it's present location. Watra's current location of Sacramento and Archer Ave., in Chicago, has over 30,000 square feet of show room space, making it one of the largest religious goods stores in the nation. Watra has further expanded to open a showroom in San Antonio, Florida.

Currently, Watra dedicates its entire first floor, to gift items, such as First Communion, Confirmation and Baptism merchandise, while our second floor is dedicated to church goods and vestments.  We have remained true to our roots still offering Religious supplies including, Candles, Wine, Altar Breads, Liturgical Books, Clerical Apparel, Medals, Candlesticks, Processional Crosses, Chalices, Crucifixes, Incense, Charcoal, deacon supplies, rosaries, patron saint medals and much more. 

Watra has been a family owned and run business since it's inception. Watra, currently owned by the McCauley family, is in it's third generation of ownership.  

Watra's goal is to provide the best service possible to our primary customers, the clergy of the Christian faith. We try to have people come to us as customers and leave our store as friends.