By Deirdre Parker Smith

deirdre.smith@salisburypost.com

Change is coming to Literary Bookpost with an eye to bring more people into the store and create a gathering place.

The store will start serving beer and wine, along with soft drinks, starting June 2. Literary Bookpost will be closed Sundays and Mondays and extending hours on Thursdays and Fridays.

The new hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Manager Leslie Cataldo said they are opening a patio area outside the back of the store, especially for the evening hours on Thursday and Friday. It’s set with a few tables and chairs and a couple of benches.

“I hope closing Mondays is not inconveniencing too many people. We’ve heard more than anything that people want later hours. Thursday and Friday are perfect for that.

“Thursday we will try to build a come-to-the-bookstore night, your book club or a group of friends. People are downtown Friday anyway,” Cataldo says. “We want to be able to do special events in the space downstairs” that now is used mostly for storage. “One of our events will be for Salisbury Pride. We’re going to do Drinks with Dorothy.” Downstairs, they’ll show “The Wizard of Oz” movie, and are encouraging people to come dressed as their favorite character. Upstairs and on the patio will be a mix and mingle. “And we’ve added a LGBT section of books. Education is very, very important.”

Beyond that, Cataldo wants to bring in more young people, high school and college age. Already she is trying to involve Catawba and Livingstone colleges in events. She’s also working with Carson High School on poetry readings, with an eye on the fall.

“Let them read something. Everyone needs to read. We might add graphic novels, something for everyone.

“We want to work with different organizations in town to give them a place to meet. It will be a great place for book clubs to meet — you don’t have to clean your home … We can accommodate large or small groups, in the mezzanine or the back area” where a couch and chairs are placed now. “I want to create nooks in the back area for reading.”

After a successful $5-a-bag book sale to reduce older inventory, Cataldo says the store will have another sale of some sort in July.

She’s planning events for the release of a new Dr. Seuss book and Harper Lee’s new novel. “I’m already taking reservations for those books. Did you know 1990 was the last Dr. Seuss book release?”

The beer and wine list is varied. “We’re doing craft beers, no domestics, and we’re willing to take suggestions.” They are starting with six wines and seven beers, along with a cider. Sodas and water will also be available, and even juice boxes if there’s a need. “We want to make things convenient for customers.”

She is encouraging people to get on the store’s mailing list for future events by going to Facebook or www.literarybookpost.com .

“We’re excited about the changes. It’s a great addition to all the beautiful things we have in Salisbury. Our downtown is amazing, compared to a lot of towns our size.”

She believes every businessperson has to do everything they can to promote themselves without relying on help from others.

“I don’t care who you are, I want this to feel like a place you want to go back into.

You want to go to a place where people know who you are and know your name.

The personal touch is always the same, people like to be known. I like to know people.

I love running this store. It’s challenging and I like that. I have so much to learn.”