Destination Midtown welcomes new business

The Reading Grounds is one of the newest businesses in the Destination Midtown area.

“Enlightening the world a sip and a page at a time.”

The words float across the wall of midtown’s newest business, The Reading Grounds, a combination bookstore and coffee shop.

The Reading Grounds offers a quaint atmosphere, numerous flavored gourmet coffees and the latest best sellers.

Housed in what was once home to a pharmacy and later an organic food store, the combination bookstore and coffee shop is just a few blocks east of UNMC, at the corner of 40th and Farnam Streets.

What: The Reading Grounds Where: 3928 Farnam St. Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays; Noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday; closed Mondays. Phone: 502-2008 Parking: Curbside parking is limited in the front of the store. Additional parking is available in two lots behind the store.

Owners Cindy Collins and Angie Keyes have fashioned a trendy gathering place, complete with a tempting selection of sandwiches and sweets, as well as notable authors.

“We strive to carry quality titles that delve into the issues concerning a diverse community,” Collins said.

Book selection ranges from the most popular in the nation (yes, they do sell the “Harry Potter” series) to more serious titles. For those seeking lighter reading, there is a section with rows of magazines to choose from.

Several couches and matching chairs beckon friends to gather for conversation, while the scent of freshly brewed coffee leads visitors to the gourmet coffee bar in the back of the store.

Along with a variety of flavored coffees, lattes and cappuccinos, The Reading Grounds also offers a variety of fruit smoothies, sodas, sandwiches, salads and desserts. “We wanted to offer a place in the midtown area where people can come and relax in a smoke- and alcohol-free environment,” Collins said.

The combination bookstore/coffee shop also is a testament that the midtown is slowly becoming a destination of choice, where people can live, work and play, said Collins, who supports the Destination Midtown revitalization efforts.

The Reading Grounds owners Cindy Collins and Angie Keyes in front of the “community picks” section, which enables residents to highlight their favorite books.

“I am elated to welcome The Reading Grounds to Destination Midtown,” said Tawanna Black, manager of the Destination Midtown initiative. “The investment and creativity that Cindy and Angie have brought to Midtown exemplifies the spirit we are working to create as we revitalize the heart of the city. The Reading Grounds will soon be a destination for Midtown residents, employees and visitors alike.”

Along with coffee and books, Collins and Keyes want to provide the public with helpful information. A rack near the back of the store is devoted to pamphlets and brochures from organizations like the American Red Cross and Nebraska AIDS Project. “We encourage any public community group or agency to bring their material here for distribution,” Collins said.

Collins, a former free-lance writer, and Keyes, who has experience in retail sales, are new to business ownership. But the partners had one thing in common – a love of gourmet coffees.

“We thought, why not open our own gourmet coffee shop,” Collins said.