Has it been five years already? Destinations Booksellers soon to expand with on-site Dueling Grounds Cafe.

Destinations Booksellers is staying open later in the evening, and the book store's new Dueling Grounds Cafe is just about ready to open.

Dueling Grounds is described as "a fresh, new place to eat good food at great prices. Plus, fine specialty coffees, teas, cold beverages and espresso-based drinks." As you'll see below, there'll be genuine evening hours (in New Albany? Isn't that illegal?) Mrs. Confidential joined me in a look-see last evening, and the rear portion of Destinations currently enshrouded by plastic is about to be revealed for scrutiny and patronage. It looks good, and you'll be pleased.

I'll have more on the new venture, but for now, peruse the following note from Randy and Ann.

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Destinations Booksellers ... September 24, 2009

As part of our commitment to serving you better, we are expanding our hours of operation, effective this week.

Back to the Future

When we opened in October of 2004, we were committed to being open at your convenience. Those early years were tough on us, but we maintained our 9 to 9 schedule for as long as we could.

As we edge closer to our fifth anniversary in New Albany, we're going back to those original hours. Back then, we were pretty much the only independent retailer who remained open in the evening. That's beginning to change.

Tom Kaiser and I were talking recently. We agreed that it was in everybody's interest to stay open later. So Tom expanded the hours at Kaiser Tobacco, and we're going to be open again from 9 to 9, Monday through Saturday.

Some of this, obviously, has to do with the imminent opening of the cafe. But mostly, Ann and I have found more and more of you coming in just at closing time. So we're extending our hours.

You can be assured that you can find expert bookselling service every day of the week beginning at 9 a.m. Of course, our e-mail and voicemail service, not to mention our online purchasing tools, are available around the clock. Monday through Saturday, booksellers will be on hand until 9 p.m., which should take care of most of your needs. On Sundays, the booksellers will go home at 5 p.m.

More importantly, you can still browse and buy during our even more abundant cafe hours, which we implemented this week during the staff training period. Here are the cafe hours. Just remember, our cafe staff will do everything they can to help you with book questions, but don't be surprised if they take a note to pass on to the booksellers, who come in at 9.

Cafe hours

Monday through Thursday - 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday - 6 a.m. to midnight
Saturday - 7 a.m. to midnight
Sunday - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thanks for your patronage and your friendship during the past five years. We hope you'll stay with us as we move into the next five. Send this e-mail to a friend, please, so they can learn about what's going on at Destinations Booksellers.