NEW ALBANY —
Steve Day said he tries to make improvements to the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library each year to make it more inviting to residents.
In recent years he has added new carpet and furniture, created a job center help station, and added several computers to fill patrons’ needs.
This year, he decided to go in a different direction.
For the first time, the NA-FC Public Library will have its own coffee shop, located on the first floor of the facility. Hobknobb Roasting Co. will manage the restaurant, which features several varieties of coffee, tea and pastries from Sweet Stuff and Adrienne & Co.
Day said he got the idea several years ago while visiting other libraries, and also heard from patrons who said the library needed a coffee shop.
“We would hear from people who were doing research in the Indiana Room that there was no place to get something to drink or eat. We would have to send them somewhere else,” said Day, director of the library. “I saved some money back from our capital projects fund and we decided we can do this. We are excited about it.”
Hobknobb has two other locations, one at 419 State St. in New Albany and at the corner of Scottsville Road and Paoli Pike in Floyds Knobs, where the business started and where it roasts its own coffee beans. Owner Barbara Fischer said she was approached by Day to open a third location in the library.
The State Street location is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The new shop will be open during the library’s regular business hours, which are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. During the school year, the library is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“He called me and said they were looking to build a coffee shop, so we bid on it,” Fischer said of Day. “I think it will be an extra draw and help the library.”
Fischer helped design the coffee shop and all of the equipment is hers, but the library paid for the renovation work. Day said Fischer signed a two-year contract to operate the shop.
Hobknobb opened its Floyds Knobs location seven years ago and has been at its State Street location for three years.
“I think it’s great. You can come in here, read a book or get on your computer, and have a cup of coffee,” New Albany Mayor Doug England said. “It’s all local and we want people to buy local.”
Day said he will soon put two or three picnic tables near the front entrance. He said patrons will also be allowed to take their coffee throughout the library.
“We always try and do something [improvements] and we think this is a good idea,” Day said. “So far everyone has said it’s a wonderful idea. They are saying ‘why didn’t you do it sooner.’”
Recent Local News
Related Photos
-
Kate Frakes, left, and Heather Morris prepare coffees for customers at the new Hobknobb Roasting Company on Wednesday located inside the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in New Albany. The coffee shop will open 15 minutes after the library opens, and close 30 minutes before the library closes. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
-
Hobknobb Roasting Company has a grand opening ceremony at their new location inside the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library on Wednesday afternoon in New Albany. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Discussion
Coffee shop opens in New Albany library
Hobknobb now has three locations
- Recent Local News
-
-
Emergency officials stage bus wreck, gas spill at FCHS
A school bus had turned over after being struck by a gas tanker, and as the truck leaked chemicals, emergency crews rushed in to try and rescue the kids who were trapped inside.
Thankfully Friday’s crash scene was only a simulation, but for Floyd County emergency officials, it was an important test to prepare them for a real life scenario. -
Fun Faces At Clarksville Field Day
-
35th annual Starlight Strawberry Festival May 25
When Joe Huber and Daisy Book were looking for a way to honor local strawberry farmers in the area, they probably had no idea that 35 years later, their idea would attract nearly 10,000 visitors each year.
But that is exactly what organizers are expecting on Saturday, May 25, at the 35th annual Strawberry Festival held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Starlight. -
Rinpoche’s journey to Indiana remarkable
Considering his tumultuous past, Arjia Rinpoche still smiles a lot. During a talk he gave Thursday at a Louisville’s Festival of Faiths presentation to celebrate the arrival of the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist monk grinned and chuckled as he told the tale of his remarkable life.
-
Floyd County Nutrition Coalition hands out 1,000 tomato plants
The organization recently handed out 1,000 free tomato plants in the community, as several groups participated in the effort including HOPE Southern Indiana, Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services and the Floyd County Health Department.
- INDOT to close lane of I-65 at 52-mile marker for repairs
- BRIEFS: May 18-19, 2013
-
“Caution Light’ the economic forecast for rest of year in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana has made progress since the employment dip at the depths of the latest recession, but there’s still some catching up to do, Indiana University Southeast economic expert Uric Dufrene said Friday.
-
“Caution Light’ the economic forecast for rest of year in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana has made progress since the employment dip at the depths of the latest recession, but there’s still some catching up to do, Indiana University Southeast economic expert Uric Dufrene said Friday.
-
POLICE: New Albany mother killed two children, then herself
New Albany Police Chief Sherri Knight said severe mental illness is what led to New Albany resident Jaime Clutter to drown her two children, then herself, in Falling Run Creek on March 13. The bodies were found where the creek runs through Binford Park.
- Henryville playground to be built Saturday
-
Five times four: Five Floyd County schools get Four Star designation; one in Clark County gets nod
- Aquatic center design gets council nod
- Chautauqua Festival set for this weekend
-
Helping out His Holiness: Woman takes on busy task of coordinating Dalai Lama’s events
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
