A pair of former Kepler's Books staff members are opening Yellow Dog Bookshop, Columbia, Mo., early next month, in the former location of Get Lost! Books. The Columbia Business Times reported that Kelsey Hammond and Joe Chevalier, who moved to the city in 2006, "feel their greatest strength will be both of their love for books and their ability to provide good recommendations for customers." When they take over the store, the first order of business "will be some small renovations, including adding a children's section, and beefing up the store's selection."
As they explained on the home page for their successful Indiegogo campaign, Hammond and Chevalier, who have almost 14 years of bookselling experience between them, believe "a bookstore can be a community center, a rallying point for ideas and exchange of information. Our shop will be on Ninth Street in the heart of the District--this hotbed of independent businesses needs a bookshop to be complete, and we hope to add to the cultural scene with author events, readings, and book groups."
"Everyone--not just college kids--should hang at Yellow Dog because I'm sure it's going to be exactly like its owners: warm, inclusive, eclectic, and delightfully smart," University of Missouri graduate student Darcy Holtgrave advised. "The Yellow Dog is within walking distance of campus. How cool would it be to see students walking to a bookstore instead of a bar?"
