The Bookstore: Got the keys today! (Pics inside)

[RetroLounge]

I stopped by to check on the progress, and they were all done with the painting, the new floor, and redoing the bathroom. So they gave me the keys and wished me well. So we stopped over tonight and changed lightbulbs, swept up, and just sat around dreaming... and I took some pics.

The signs you see in the window were being thrown out by a retail clothing store, so we grabbed them for future use over the shelves in the children's section...

The front of the store. Lots of room for a big wide sign:     X  e  n  i  t  h       B  o  o  k  s  e  l  l  e  r  s



The Retro Kids and my partner's son, imagining...



The Retro Kids and my partner's son, dreaming...



:bounce: I am so fricken excited I doubt I will sleep... :bounce:

RL

[reyd reid reed]

1. How exciting!!!

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

I wouldn't sleep, either. Maybe you can just bring in a bunch of sleeping bags and y'all can camp out...

:woohoo::woohoo:

[RetroLounge]

51. I'll be camped out there pretty soon...

Gonna need curtains if I am gonna walk around nekkid...

:9

RL

[Robeson]

2. Great! I know you're excited...

...I hope this really takes off for you...:toast: :thumbsup:

[RetroLounge]

53. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[merh]

3. Congratulations!!

I am excited for you! :bounce:

To realizing dreams! :toast:

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[RetroLounge]

59. To realizing dreams!

:toast:

:hi:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Retro!

How awesome!

Biggo congrats, sweetie!

There is light at the end of the tunnel......

It's the light in your bookstore!

:toast:

:bounce: :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

22. Thank you my dear CP!

:hug:

:bounce:

RL

[mulsh]

5. best of luck

n/t

[RetroLounge]

81. Thanks

:hi:

RL

[Suich]

6. That looks terrific!

It reminds me of my old neighborhood used book store, Vandewater Books, I used to go to all the time. They closed after the landlord tripled the rent. I miss that place a lot!

:)

[RetroLounge]

10. Did you ever go to the Seattle used bookstore

that was open 24 hours on Friday nights?

My partner used to live in Seattle and she liked that store a lot...

:hi:

RL

[Suich]

23. Hm-m-m-m-m...I don't recognize that name.

Was it downtown? Elliott Bay Book Store, perhaps?

:shrug:

[RetroLounge]

24. I think it was called Twice Sold Tales...

:shrug:

RL

[grasswire]

7. so what are you using for shelving?

Did you have to buy bookcases?

(I'm so jealous)

[RetroLounge]

8. I already have 100 bookcases

They came with the books I bought last year...

:hi:

RL

[wildhorses]

9. hot dayum!!!

too bad i stole all your books:blush:

:rofl:

[RetroLounge]

11. Well, you can just deliver them whenever you're ready...

:rofl:

RL

[wildhorses]

17. consider them shipped and on their way---

postage due of course;)

:pals:

so excited for you:bounce:

[Dervill Crow]

12. Mazel tov, congratulations, and blessed be!!

That front door looks soooo inviting. I know you'll be incredibly busy, but please keep us updated with more pictures as it progresses, okay?

:applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[RetroLounge]

54. Always lots of pictures...

:hi:

RL

[darkstar]

13. Fantastic...need more of you bibliophiles setting up shop

especially folks like you.

Rock on!!!!

[RetroLounge]

70. Thanks!

Rocking on...

:hi:

RL

[SPKrazy]

14. Very Cool Retro!

congrats

:bounce:

Here's to some great book sales!

:toast: (mountain dew for you!)

[RetroLounge]

15. We're going to have a weekly Friend-O-Bill gathering too...

Wanna come by?

:hi:

RL

[gmoney]

16. It's legal to sell children there?

Cute inventory...

[RetroLounge]

21. Yes, just difficult to replenish the inventory...

:rofl:

RL

[gmoney]

31. check the signs on grocery store bulletin boards...

seems like someone's always having a litter they need to give away... forget that "free to good homes" thing and take them all.

[u4ic]

18. w000000000000000000t!!

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

63. ...

:toast:

:woohoo:

RL

[SeattleGirl]

19. I love it!!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited for you, RL! :bounce: :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

65. Thanks SG!

:hug:

RL

[Bullwinkle925]

20. I'm very happy for you. And green w/envy as usual.

I've been selling a few online @ Amazon and it's fun. Good luck!!!!

BW925

[RetroLounge]

84. It is fun!

I should be back online in a week or so...

RL

[QMPMom]

25. Congratulations and best of luck to you! You deserve it.

[RetroLounge]

98. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[seemunkee]

26. Fantastic, best of luck

[RetroLounge]

99. Thank you much!

:hi:

RL

[LostinVA]

27. Yay! Congrats!

Although, I think you may have some little gremlins hiding in your store...

[RetroLounge]

100. Gremlins can be put to work...

or sold!

:hi:

RL

[BarenakedLady]

28. That is so awesome!

It looks like the perfect place for a bookstore. I'm so freaking excited for you.

:bounce: :bounce: :party: :party: :bounce: :bounce:

[Rising Phoenix]

29. I'm so happy for you

[Callalily]

30. How wonderful RL!

This is so exciting. Wishing you the best with your book store. And btw, love the pic of your staff.

[ThomCat]

32. Awesome! I hope the setup work goes well!

:hug:

[MissMillie]

33. GREAT news!!!!

I'm so excited for you I can hardly stand it!

[bicentennial_baby]

34. Fuck yes! w00t!

:bounce:

:loveya:

ps- thank you :hug:

[RetroLounge]

39. Yay!

:loveya:

RL

p.s. You're welcome...

[Midlodemocrat]

35. I am SOOOOO excited for you!!!

Best of luck with this endeavor!


:hug:

[FedUpWithIt All]

36. ...

:7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :7 :7 :7 :7

[RetroLounge]

38. ...

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

:hug:

RL

[crim son]

37. That's a good-looking storefront: - very welcoming.

I'm excited for you!

[RetroLounge]

66. It is very nice indeed...

Stop by, you're always welcome...

:hi:

RL

[mzteris]

40. niiiiiiiiice

It looks great. (And the kids are cute, too! Are they going to be your helpers? ;) )

I'm going to save all the current books we're reading and bring them up to you when we're done!

[Guava Jelly]

41. You go player...

ahh fyi (it's against the law to sell your kids) :rofl:
Congrats man!!
:thumbsup:

[RetroLounge]

48. Damn. You Serious?

I can't sell them?

:rofl:

RL

[crispini]

42. Congrats! Good news!

:thumbsup:

[photogirl12]

43. That is sooooo cool!!

I wish there were more local bookstores in my area!

[GirlinContempt]

44. Looks great

:)

[Connonym]

45. Looks great

Things have really turned around for you a lot in the past couple week. I wish you continued better days.

[YankeyMCC]

46. Exciting stuff hearing about your dream taking form

particularly since it's the kind of thing I would love to do myself. Keep sharing as things develop.

[ronnykmarshall]

47. Very cool!

Post more pics when you get going.

Are you gonna have internet sales? If so, I'll be happy to buy m' books from ya.

[hippywife]

49. Yaaaa!

I hope it's a screaming success! Are you sure it's big enough?

[zonkers]

50. Good luck. You are doing a good thing. Little bookstores are rare endangered jewels that

enhance our lives. I always try to patronize them...just like I do mom n' pop hardware stores.

[Shine]

52. Awesome!!!

I'm so excited and happy for you, Retro! :bounce: :woohoo:

Congrats! :toast:

[Jimbo S]

55. 6706 >> staying in Tosa?

[RetroLounge]

57. It's actually Milwaukee by about 5 blocks...

same zip code...

RL

[WCGreen]

56. You should be ashamed of yourself....

Selling your kids like that....

[RetroLounge]

58. It's a good scam...

I sell them, then kidnap them back, then sell them again...

:D

RL

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. wow! thats super cool! CONGRATULATIONS!!

:bounce:

[xchrom]

61. god -- i LOVE those windows.

indeed -- this is very, very exciting.


oh yeah -- very cute kids too.
:toast: :woohoo: :woohoo: :toast: :woohoo: :toast: :woohoo: :toast:

[RetroLounge]

62. thanks!

:bounce:

The windows are way cool...

RL

[GoneOffShore]

64. Fantastic!!! Best of luck!

It looks great.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Le Taz Hot]

67. For those of us who don't get to the lounge very often

(and even for those who do), please tell us the location of your bookstore. And congratulations to you and your partner!

[RetroLounge]

69. It's on the west side of Milwaukee...

:hi:

RL

[YDogg]

68. Very cool!

:bounce:

[tigereye]

71. yay Retro!

:yourock:

best of luck to all of you!

[RetroLounge]

72. Thanks!

If I keep moving books by myself I'm gonna get arms like flvegan :D

RL

[tigereye]

75. you need a book moving-in party !

then ply your friends with pizza and beer!

[5thGenDemocrat]

73. Congratulations -- small business makes our economy go!

That said, I noticed your online shop is temporarily unavailable until the 14th (probably 'cuz you're busy moving, right?). I was going to spend a buttload of money on some books, but now I'll just have to stifle my urges until mid-April.
Best wishes from Annie and me
John
Look for the order from a guy named John in Saginaw, Michigan. I'm reorganizing the library here and will soon have more room for books.

[RetroLounge]

76. We will be back on line before that I hope.

I just set the inventory on hold for 2 weeks.

As soon as we are moved and have internet access again, I'll set the store back to active...

:hi:

RL

[applegrove]

74. Looks great and Good luck!

[RetroLounge]

77. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[SKKY]

78. Hey RetroLounge, got a question for you...

...are you going to do a website for your store, and more importantly, will you receive/accept orders over the phone? I ask because, whenever possible, I buy local before I go to a large retailer. If I needed a book, say, a decent hardback copy of Narcissus and Goldmund, could I call you and get it from you?

[RetroLounge]

80. Phone orders are in our future plans...

once we get our own Point-of-Sale system set up.

We have a website already, plus an amazon store front.

You can bookmark our myspace page which has the links...

http://www.myspace.com/xenithbooksellers


RL

[TommyO]

87. Congratulation! I'll be sure to keep you in mind for my book needs

wants, desires, and more!

[Penndems]

79. Congratulations, New Small Business Owner!

How exciting this is. Hope both you and your bookstore are prosperous for many years to come!

[CanuckAmok]

82. Congratulations, RL.

You needed something good to happen, and there it is.

Let us know when you're going to be ready to do on-line orders!

[Critters2]

83. Great Big Congrats, RL!!!!

Any idea when you'll open? My dad is in the Milwaukee area, so I get up that way from time to time.

Also, though you prolly don't need this info, I have a parishioner who has a bookstore, and she talks often about the help she gets from the Independent Booksellers Association (or organization or whatever). If you're not in that group yet, I recommend it.

Again, congrats, and all the best!!

[graywarrior]

85. Shit, man. That is so awesome.

I am so happy for you.

[RetroLounge]

92. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

86. I wish you all the best. Nothing beats a good bookstore.

People like yourself and your partner make this country liveable!

:patriot:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

88. Very nice space...

I'm so proud of you RL!! Good luck! :hug:
I hope your life get a lot better really soon!
Duckie

[RetroLounge]

89. Thanks

:hug:

RL

[Evergreen Emerald]

90. That is so very cool!

I am so excited for you!

[RetroLounge]

91. Thank you...

:hi:

RL

[Catshrink]

93. Cool!

Cute kids and awesome bookstore. I'd love to browse there. Hope all goes well for the move.

Congratulations!!

:toast:

[BluePatriot]

94. Congratulations!!!

What a great coincidence you found those signs! Validation from the Universe, and all that. Congrats!!!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

95. You are fast becoming a character from "Sleepless in Seattle." Congratulations!

Oh crap, I can't believe I'm admitting I watched the chickiest chick flick of all time!

[RetroLounge]

96. What are you saying?

You want to meet at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day?

:D

Not that I've watched it...

:9

RL

[RetroLounge]

97. and as an FYI, the Online Store is open again

:hi:

http://www.alibris.com/bookstore/xenithbooksellers

RL