diff --git a/examples/v2/chat2.nim b/examples/v2/chat2.nim
index 41e3062fe..26590df5c 100644
--- a/examples/v2/chat2.nim
+++ b/examples/v2/chat2.nim
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ proc processInput(rfd: AsyncFD) {.async.} =
     await node.mountSwap()
 
   if (conf.storenode != "") or (conf.store == true):
-    await node.mountStore(persistMessages = conf.persistMessages)
+    await node.mountStore()
 
     var storenode: Option[RemotePeerInfo]
 
diff --git a/tests/all_tests_v2.nim b/tests/all_tests_v2.nim
index 981ec02d2..9a8404001 100644
--- a/tests/all_tests_v2.nim
+++ b/tests/all_tests_v2.nim
@@ -5,20 +5,22 @@ import
   ./v2/test_wakunode,
   ./v2/test_wakunode_relay,
   ./v2/test_wakunode_lightpush,
+  # Waku Store
+  ./v2/test_utils_pagination,
+  ./v2/test_message_store_queue,
+  ./v2/test_message_store_queue_pagination,
+  ./v2/test_message_store_sqlite_query,
+  ./v2/test_message_store_sqlite,
   ./v2/test_waku_store_rpc_codec,
   ./v2/test_waku_store,
   ./v2/test_wakunode_store,
+  # Waku Filter
   ./v2/test_waku_filter,
   ./v2/test_wakunode_filter,
   ./v2/test_waku_payload,
   ./v2/test_waku_swap,
   ./v2/test_utils_peers,
-  ./v2/test_utils_pagination,
   ./v2/test_message_cache,
-  ./v2/test_message_store_queue,
-  ./v2/test_message_store_queue_pagination,
-  ./v2/test_message_store_sqlite_query,
-  ./v2/test_message_store_sqlite,
   ./v2/test_jsonrpc_waku,
   ./v2/test_rest_serdes,
   ./v2/test_rest_debug_api_serdes,
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim b/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
index b8806c5e6..016d6a20c 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_jsonrpc_waku.nim
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import
   libp2p/stream/[bufferstream, connection],
   libp2p/crypto/crypto,
   libp2p/protocols/pubsub/pubsub,
-  libp2p/protocols/pubsub/rpc/message,
+  libp2p/protocols/pubsub/rpc/message
+import
   ../../waku/v1/node/rpc/hexstrings,
+  ../../waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue,
   ../../waku/v2/node/wakunode2,
   ../../waku/v2/node/jsonrpc/[store_api,
                               relay_api,
@@ -232,7 +234,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
       key = wakunode2.PrivateKey.random(ECDSA, rng[]).get()
       peer = PeerInfo.new(key)
     
-    await node.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
     
     var listenSwitch = newStandardSwitch(some(key))
     waitFor listenSwitch.start()
@@ -528,7 +530,7 @@ procSuite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API":
 
     await node.mountFilter()
     await node.mountSwap()
-    await node.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
 
     # Create and set some peers
     let
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_peer_manager.nim b/tests/v2/test_peer_manager.nim
index 66f5aeb3b..d38fd25db 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_peer_manager.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_peer_manager.nim
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ procSuite "Peer Manager":
 
     await node.mountFilter()
     await node.mountSwap()
-    await node.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node.mountStore()
 
     node.wakuFilter.setPeer(filterPeer.toRemotePeerInfo())
     node.wakuSwap.setPeer(swapPeer.toRemotePeerInfo())
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_waku_store.nim b/tests/v2/test_waku_store.nim
index 31490dd52..da98272b8 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_waku_store.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_waku_store.nim
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ procSuite "Waku Store - fault tolerant store":
       check:
         successResult.isOk()
         successResult.value == 10
-        proto3.messages.len == 10
+        proto3.store.getMessagesCount().tryGet() == 10
 
       ## Cleanup 
       await allFutures(dialSwitch3.stop(), listenSwitch3.stop())
@@ -681,9 +681,7 @@ procSuite "Waku Store - fault tolerant store":
       let response = res.tryGet()
       check:
         response == 14
-      
-      check:
-        proto3.messages.len == 14
+        proto3.store.getMessagesCount().tryGet() == 14
 
       ## Cleanup
       await allFutures(listenSwitch3.stop(), dialSwitch3.stop(), offListenSwitch.stop())
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_waku_swap.nim b/tests/v2/test_waku_swap.nim
index 2385c95c9..890d1db3b 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_waku_swap.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_waku_swap.nim
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ import
   libp2p/stream/[bufferstream, connection],
   libp2p/crypto/[crypto, secp],
   libp2p/switch,
-  eth/keys,
+  eth/keys
+import
   ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_message,
   ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_store,
   ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_swap/waku_swap,
+  ../../waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue,
   ../../waku/v2/node/wakunode2,
   ../../waku/v2/utils/peers,
   ../test_helpers, ./utils
@@ -50,11 +52,11 @@ procSuite "Waku SWAP Accounting":
   asyncTest "Update accounting state after store operations":
     let
       nodeKey1 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60000))
+      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60000))
       nodeKey2 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60001))
+      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60001))
+    
+    let
       contentTopic = ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content/proto")
       message = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
@@ -63,14 +65,14 @@ procSuite "Waku SWAP Accounting":
     # Start nodes and mount protocols
     await node1.start()
     await node1.mountSwap()
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node1.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
     await node2.start()
     await node2.mountSwap()
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node2.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
 
     await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", message)
 
-    await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
+    await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     node1.wakuStore.setPeer(node2.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
     node1.wakuSwap.setPeer(node2.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
@@ -97,11 +99,11 @@ procSuite "Waku SWAP Accounting":
   asyncTest "Update accounting state after sending cheque":
     let
       nodeKey1 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60000))
+      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60000))
       nodeKey2 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60001))
+      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60001))
+
+    let
       contentTopic = ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content/proto")
       message = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
@@ -113,14 +115,14 @@ procSuite "Waku SWAP Accounting":
     # Start nodes and mount protocols
     await node1.start()
     await node1.mountSwap(swapConfig)
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node1.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
     await node2.start()
     await node2.mountSwap(swapConfig)
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node2.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
 
     await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", message)
 
-    await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
+    await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     node1.wakuStore.setPeer(node2.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
     node1.wakuSwap.setPeer(node2.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
diff --git a/tests/v2/test_wakunode_store.nim b/tests/v2/test_wakunode_store.nim
index 77529567f..b5c3b7c3c 100644
--- a/tests/v2/test_wakunode_store.nim
+++ b/tests/v2/test_wakunode_store.nim
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ import
   libp2p/switch,
   libp2p/protocols/pubsub/rpc/messages,
   libp2p/protocols/pubsub/pubsub,
-  libp2p/protocols/pubsub/gossipsub,
-  eth/keys
+  libp2p/protocols/pubsub/gossipsub
 import
   ../../waku/v2/node/storage/sqlite,
+  ../../waku/v2/node/storage/message/message_store,
   ../../waku/v2/node/storage/message/sqlite_store,
   ../../waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue,
-  ../../waku/v2/protocol/[waku_relay, waku_message],
+  ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_message,
   ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_store,
   ../../waku/v2/protocol/waku_filter,
   ../../waku/v2/node/peer_manager/peer_manager,
@@ -27,29 +27,32 @@ import
   ../../waku/v2/utils/time,
   ../../waku/v2/node/wakunode2
 
-from std/times import epochTime
+from std/times import getTime, toUnixFloat
+
+proc newTestMessageStore(): MessageStore =
+  let database = SqliteDatabase.init("", inMemory = true)[]
+  SqliteStore.init(database).tryGet()
 
 
 procSuite "WakuNode - Store":
-  let rng = keys.newRng()
+  let rng = crypto.newRng()
  
   asyncTest "Store protocol returns expected message":
     let
       nodeKey1 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60000))
+      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60000))
       nodeKey2 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"),
-        Port(60002))
+      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60002))
+    let
       contentTopic = ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content/proto")
       message = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
     var completionFut = newFuture[bool]()
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node1.mountStore(store=newTestMessageStore())
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node2.mountStore(store=newTestMessageStore())
 
     await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", message)
 
@@ -88,11 +91,11 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - Store":
       storeComplFut = newFuture[bool]()
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node1.mountStore(store=newTestMessageStore())
     await node1.mountFilter()
 
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node2.mountStore(store=newTestMessageStore())
     await node2.mountFilter()
 
     node2.wakuFilter.setPeer(node1.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
@@ -142,9 +145,9 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - Store":
       message = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic)
 
     await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node1.mountStore(store=newTestMessageStore())
     await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await node2.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
 
     await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage("/waku/2/default-waku/proto", message)
 
@@ -156,61 +159,44 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - Store":
 
     check:
       # message is correctly stored
-      node1.wakuStore.messages.len == 1
+      node1.wakuStore.store.getMessagesCount().tryGet() == 1
 
     await node1.stop()
     await node2.stop()
 
   asyncTest "Resume proc discards duplicate messages":
+    let timeOrigin = getNanosecondTime(getTime().toUnixFloat())
     let
       nodeKey1 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node1 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60000))
+      client = WakuNode.new(nodeKey1, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60000))
       nodeKey2 = crypto.PrivateKey.random(Secp256k1, rng[])[]
-      node2 = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60002))
+      server = WakuNode.new(nodeKey2, ValidIpAddress.init("0.0.0.0"), Port(60002))
 
     let 
       contentTopic = ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content/proto")
-      msg1 = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world1".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic, timestamp: 1)
-      msg2 = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world2".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic, timestamp: 2)
+      msg1 = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world1".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic, timestamp: timeOrigin + 1)
+      msg2 = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world2".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic, timestamp: timeOrigin + 2)
+      msg3 = WakuMessage(payload: "hello world3".toBytes(), contentTopic: contentTopic, timestamp: timeOrigin + 3)
 
-    # setup sqlite database for node1
-    let
-      database = SqliteDatabase.init("", inMemory = true)[]
-      store = SqliteStore.init(database).tryGet()
+    await allFutures(client.start(), server.start())
+    await client.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
+    await server.mountStore(store=StoreQueueRef.new())
 
-    await node1.start()
-    await node1.mountStore(persistMessages = true, store = store)
-    await node2.start()
-    await node2.mountStore(persistMessages = true)
+    await server.wakuStore.handleMessage(DefaultTopic, msg1)
+    await server.wakuStore.handleMessage(DefaultTopic, msg2)
 
-    await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage(DefaultTopic, msg1)
-    await node2.wakuStore.handleMessage(DefaultTopic, msg2)
+    client.wakuStore.setPeer(server.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
 
-    await sleepAsync(500.millis)
-
-    node1.wakuStore.setPeer(node2.switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo())
-
-
-    # populate db with msg1 to be a duplicate
-    let index1 = Index.compute(msg1, getNanosecondTime(epochTime()), DefaultTopic)
-    let output1 = store.put(index1, msg1, DefaultTopic)
-    check output1.isOk
-    discard node1.wakuStore.messages.put(index1, msg1, DefaultTopic)
+    # Insert the same message in both node's store
+    let index3 = Index.compute(msg3, getNanosecondTime(getTime().toUnixFloat() + 10.float), DefaultTopic)
+    require server.wakuStore.store.put(index3, msg3, DefaultTopic).isOk()
+    require client.wakuStore.store.put(index3, msg3, DefaultTopic).isOk()
 
     # now run the resume proc
-    await node1.resume()
-
-    # count the total number of retrieved messages from the database
-    let res = store.getAllMessages()
-    check:
-      res.isOk()
+    await client.resume()
 
     check:
-      # if the duplicates are discarded properly, then the total number of messages after resume should be 2
-      # check no duplicates is in the messages field
-      node1.wakuStore.messages.len == 2
-      # check no duplicates is in the db
-      res.value.len == 2
+      # If the duplicates are discarded properly, then the total number of messages after resume should be 3
+      client.wakuStore.store.getMessagesCount().tryGet() == 3
 
-    await node1.stop()
-    await node2.stop()
\ No newline at end of file
+    await allFutures(client.stop(), server.stop())
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/waku/common/wakubridge.nim b/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
index 83b6acb8c..bd1cbabdc 100644
--- a/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
+++ b/waku/common/wakubridge.nim
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ when isMainModule:
   waitFor mountLibp2pPing(bridge.nodev2)
   
   if conf.store:
-    waitFor mountStore(bridge.nodev2, persistMessages = false)  # Bridge does not persist messages
+    waitFor mountStore(bridge.nodev2)  # Bridge does not persist messages
 
   if conf.filter:
     waitFor mountFilter(bridge.nodev2)
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/storage/message/dual_message_store.nim b/waku/v2/node/storage/message/dual_message_store.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d5abe90fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/waku/v2/node/storage/message/dual_message_store.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+{.push raises: [Defect].}
+
+import
+  std/options,
+  stew/results,
+  chronicles
+import
+  ../../../protocol/waku_message,
+  ../../../utils/pagination,
+  ../../../utils/time,
+  ../sqlite,
+  ./message_store,
+  ./waku_store_queue,
+  ./sqlite_store
+
+logScope:
+  topics = "message_store.dual"
+
+
+type DualMessageStore* = ref object of MessageStore
+    inmemory: StoreQueueRef
+    persistent: SqliteStore
+
+
+proc init*(T: type DualMessageStore, db: SqliteDatabase, capacity=StoreDefaultCapacity): MessageStoreResult[T] = 
+  let 
+    inmemory = StoreQueueRef.new(capacity)
+    persistent = ?SqliteStore.init(db)
+
+  info "loading messages from persistent storage to in-memory store"
+
+  let res = persistent.getAllMessages()
+  if res.isErr():
+    warn "failed to load messages from the persistent store", err = res.error
+  else: 
+    for (receiverTime, msg, pubsubTopic) in res.value:
+      let index = Index.compute(msg, receiverTime, pubsubTopic)
+      discard inmemory.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
+
+    info "successfully loaded messages from the persistent store"
+
+
+  return ok(DualMessageStore(inmemory: inmemory, persistent: persistent))
+
+
+method put*(s: DualMessageStore, index: Index, message: WakuMessage, pubsubTopic: string): MessageStoreResult[void] =
+  ?s.inmemory.put(index, message, pubsubTopic)
+  ?s.persistent.put(index, message, pubsubTopic)
+  ok()
+
+
+method getAllMessages*(s: DualMessageStore): MessageStoreResult[seq[MessageStoreRow]] =
+  s.inmemory.getAllMessages()
+
+
+method getMessagesByHistoryQuery*(
+  s: DualMessageStore,
+  contentTopic = none(seq[ContentTopic]),
+  pubsubTopic = none(string),
+  cursor = none(Index),
+  startTime = none(Timestamp),
+  endTime = none(Timestamp),
+  maxPageSize = StoreMaxPageSize,
+  ascendingOrder = true
+): MessageStoreResult[MessageStorePage] =
+  s.inmemory.getMessagesByHistoryQuery(contentTopic, pubsubTopic, cursor, startTime, endTime, maxPageSize, ascendingOrder)
+
+
+method getMessagesCount*(s: DualMessageStore): MessageStoreResult[int64] =
+  s.inmemory.getMessagesCount()
+
+method getOldestMessageTimestamp*(s: DualMessageStore): MessageStoreResult[Timestamp] =
+  s.inmemory.getOldestMessageTimestamp()
+
+method getNewestMessageTimestamp*(s: DualMessageStore): MessageStoreResult[Timestamp] =
+  s.inmemory.getNewestMessageTimestamp()
+
+
+method deleteMessagesOlderThanTimestamp*(s: DualMessageStore, ts: Timestamp): MessageStoreResult[void] =
+  # NOTE: Current in-memory store deletes messages as they are inserted. This method fails with a "not implemented" error
+  # ?s.inmemory.deleteMessagesOlderThanTimestamp(ts)
+  ?s.persistent.deleteMessagesOlderThanTimestamp(ts)
+  ok()
+
+method deleteOldestMessagesNotWithinLimit*(s: DualMessageStore, limit: int): MessageStoreResult[void] =
+  # NOTE: Current in-memory store deletes messages as they are inserted. This method fails with a "not implemented" error
+  # ?s.inmemory.deleteOldestMessagesNotWithinLimit(limit)
+  ?s.persistent.deleteOldestMessagesNotWithinLimit(limit)
+  ok()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue.nim b/waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue.nim
index 88e79d767..ca2452717 100644
--- a/waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/node/storage/message/waku_store_queue.nim
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import
   ../../../utils/time,
   ./message_store
 
+export pagination
 
 logScope:
   topics = "message_store.storequeue"
 
+
 type 
   IndexedWakuMessage* = object
     # TODO may need to rename this object as it holds both the index and the pubsub topic of a waku message
diff --git a/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim b/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
index 13747c6ec..60d979db3 100644
--- a/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/node/wakunode2.nim
@@ -395,11 +395,15 @@ proc resume*(node: WakuNode, peerList: Option[seq[RemotePeerInfo]] = none(seq[Re
   ## peerList indicates the list of peers to query from. The history is fetched from the first available peer in this list. Such candidates should be found through a discovery method (to be developed).
   ## if no peerList is passed, one of the peers in the underlying peer manager unit of the store protocol is picked randomly to fetch the history from. 
   ## The history gets fetched successfully if the dialed peer has been online during the queried time window.
+  if node.wakuStore.isNil():
+    return
+
+  let retrievedMessages = await node.wakuStore.resume(peerList)
+  if retrievedMessages.isErr():
+    error "failed to resume store", error=retrievedMessages.error
+    return
   
-  if not node.wakuStore.isNil:
-    let retrievedMessages = await node.wakuStore.resume(peerList)
-    if retrievedMessages.isOk:
-      info "the number of retrieved messages since the last online time: ", number=retrievedMessages.value
+  info "the number of retrieved messages since the last online time: ", number=retrievedMessages.value
 
 # TODO Extend with more relevant info: topics, peers, memory usage, online time, etc
 proc info*(node: WakuNode): WakuInfo =
@@ -452,24 +456,18 @@ proc mountSwap*(node: WakuNode, swapConfig: SwapConfig = SwapConfig.init()) {.as
 
   node.switch.mount(node.wakuSwap, protocolMatcher(WakuSwapCodec))
 
-proc mountStore*(node: WakuNode, store: MessageStore = nil, persistMessages: bool = false, capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity, retentionTime = StoreDefaultRetentionTime, isSqliteOnly = false) {.async, raises: [Defect, LPError].} =
+proc mountStore*(node: WakuNode, store: MessageStore = nil, capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity, retentionPolicy=none(MessageRetentionPolicy) ) {.async, raises: [Defect, LPError].} =
   if node.wakuSwap.isNil():
     info "mounting waku store protocol (no waku swap)"
   else:
     info "mounting waku store protocol with waku swap support"
 
-  let retentionPolicy = if isSqliteOnly: TimeRetentionPolicy.init(retentionTime)
-                        else: CapacityRetentionPolicy.init(capacity)
-
   node.wakuStore = WakuStore.init(
     node.peerManager, 
     node.rng, 
     store, 
     wakuSwap=node.wakuSwap, 
-    persistMessages=persistMessages, 
-    capacity=capacity, 
-    isSqliteOnly=isSqliteOnly, 
-    retentionPolicy=some(retentionPolicy)
+    retentionPolicy=retentionPolicy
   )
   
   if node.started:
@@ -832,6 +830,8 @@ when isMainModule:
     ./wakunode2_setup_rpc,
     ./wakunode2_setup_sql_migrations,
     ./storage/sqlite,
+    ./storage/message/message_store,
+    ./storage/message/dual_message_store,
     ./storage/message/sqlite_store,
     ./storage/peer/waku_peer_storage
   
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ when isMainModule:
 
   # 1/7 Setup storage
   proc setupStorage(conf: WakuNodeConf):
-    SetupResult[tuple[pStorage: WakuPeerStorage, mStorage: SqliteStore]] =
+    SetupResult[tuple[pStorage: WakuPeerStorage, mStorage: MessageStore]] =
 
     ## Setup a SQLite Database for a wakunode based on a supplied
     ## configuration file and perform all necessary migration.
@@ -854,20 +854,20 @@ when isMainModule:
     
     var
       sqliteDatabase: SqliteDatabase
-      storeTuple: tuple[pStorage: WakuPeerStorage, mStorage: SqliteStore]
+      storeTuple: tuple[pStorage: WakuPeerStorage, mStorage: MessageStore]
 
-    # Setup DB
+    # Setup database connection
     if conf.dbPath != "":
       let dbRes = SqliteDatabase.init(conf.dbPath)
-      if dbRes.isErr:
-        warn "failed to init database", err = dbRes.error
+      if dbRes.isErr():
+        warn "failed to init database connection", err = dbRes.error
         waku_node_errors.inc(labelValues = ["init_db_failure"])
-        return err("failed to init database")
+        return err("failed to init database connection")
       else:
         sqliteDatabase = dbRes.value
 
-    if not sqliteDatabase.isNil and (conf.persistPeers or conf.persistMessages):
-      
+
+    if not sqliteDatabase.isNil():
       ## Database vacuuming
       # TODO: Wrap and move this logic to the appropriate module
       let 
@@ -887,28 +887,33 @@ when isMainModule:
 
         debug "finished sqlite database vacuuming"
 
-      # Database initialized. Let's set it up
-      sqliteDatabase.runMigrations(conf) # First migrate what we have
+      sqliteDatabase.runMigrations(conf) 
 
-      if conf.persistPeers:
-        # Peer persistence enable. Set up Peer table in storage
-        let res = WakuPeerStorage.new(sqliteDatabase)
 
-        if res.isErr:
-          warn "failed to init new WakuPeerStorage", err = res.error
-          waku_node_errors.inc(labelValues = ["init_store_failure"])
-        else:
-          storeTuple.pStorage = res.value
-      
-      if conf.persistMessages:
-        # Historical message persistence enable. Set up Message table in storage
+    if conf.persistPeers:
+      let res = WakuPeerStorage.new(sqliteDatabase)
+      if res.isErr():
+        warn "failed to init peer store", err = res.error
+        waku_node_errors.inc(labelValues = ["init_store_failure"])
+      else:
+        storeTuple.pStorage = res.value
+
+    if conf.persistMessages:
+      if conf.sqliteStore: 
         let res = SqliteStore.init(sqliteDatabase)
         if res.isErr():
-          warn "failed to init SqliteStore", err = res.error
+          warn "failed to init message store", err = res.error
           waku_node_errors.inc(labelValues = ["init_store_failure"])
         else:
           storeTuple.mStorage = res.value
- 
+      else: 
+        let res = DualMessageStore.init(sqliteDatabase, conf.storeCapacity)
+        if res.isErr():
+          warn "failed to init message store", err = res.error
+          waku_node_errors.inc(labelValues = ["init_store_failure"])
+        else:
+          storeTuple.mStorage = res.value
+
     ok(storeTuple)
 
   # 2/7 Retrieve dynamic bootstrap nodes
@@ -1039,10 +1044,7 @@ when isMainModule:
     ok(node)
 
   # 4/7 Mount and initialize configured protocols
-  proc setupProtocols(node: WakuNode,
-                      conf: WakuNodeConf,
-                      mStorage: SqliteStore = nil): SetupResult[bool] =
-    
+  proc setupProtocols(node: WakuNode, conf: WakuNodeConf, mStorage: MessageStore): SetupResult[bool] =
     ## Setup configured protocols on an existing Waku v2 node.
     ## Optionally include persistent message storage.
     ## No protocols are started yet.
@@ -1084,7 +1086,9 @@ when isMainModule:
 
     # Store setup
     if (conf.storenode != "") or (conf.store):
-      waitFor mountStore(node, mStorage, conf.persistMessages, conf.storeCapacity, conf.sqliteRetentionTime, conf.sqliteStore)
+      let retentionPolicy = if conf.sqliteStore: TimeRetentionPolicy.init(conf.sqliteRetentionTime)
+                            else: CapacityRetentionPolicy.init(conf.storeCapacity)
+      waitFor mountStore(node, mStorage, retentionPolicy=some(retentionPolicy))
 
       if conf.storenode != "":
         setStorePeer(node, conf.storenode)
@@ -1188,7 +1192,7 @@ when isMainModule:
   
   var
     pStorage: WakuPeerStorage
-    mStorage: SqliteStore
+    mStorage: MessageStore
   
   let setupStorageRes = setupStorage(conf)
 
diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/protocol.nim b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/protocol.nim
index 8a9e321a4..6ebc04fc9 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/protocol.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/protocol.nim
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ const MaxRpcSize = StoreMaxPageSize * MaxWakuMessageSize + 64*1024 # We add a 64
 # Error types (metric label values)
 const
   insertFailure = "insert_failure"
+  retPolicyFailure = "retpolicy_failure"
   dialFailure = "dial_failure"
   decodeRpcFailure = "decode_rpc_failure"
   peerNotFoundFailure = "peer_not_found_failure"
@@ -69,17 +70,28 @@ type
   WakuStore* = ref object of LPProtocol
     peerManager*: PeerManager
     rng*: ref rand.HmacDrbgContext
-    messages*: StoreQueueRef # in-memory message store
-    store*: MessageStore  # sqlite DB handle
+    store*: MessageStore
     wakuSwap*: WakuSwap
-    persistMessages*: bool
-    #TODO: SqliteStore currenly also holds isSqliteOnly; put it in single place.
-    isSqliteOnly: bool # if true, don't use in memory-store and answer history queries from the sqlite DB
     retentionPolicy: Option[MessageRetentionPolicy]
 
 
-proc reportMessagesCountMetric(store: MessageStore) = 
-  let resCount = store.getMessagesCount()
+proc executeMessageRetentionPolicy*(w: WakuStore): WakuStoreResult[void] =
+  if w.retentionPolicy.isNone():
+    return ok()
+
+  let policy = w.retentionPolicy.get()
+
+  if w.store.isNil():
+    return err("no message store provided (nil)")
+
+  policy.execute(w.store)
+
+
+proc reportStoredMessagesMetric*(w: WakuStore) = 
+  if w.store.isNil():
+    return
+
+  let resCount = w.store.getMessagesCount()
   if resCount.isErr():
     return
 
@@ -104,23 +116,10 @@ proc findMessages(w: WakuStore, query: HistoryQuery): HistoryResponse {.gcsafe.}
     qMaxPageSize = query.pagingInfo.pageSize
     qAscendingOrder = query.pagingInfo.direction == PagingDirection.FORWARD
 
-  let queryStartTime = getTime().toUnixFloat()
 
-  let queryRes = block:
-    # TODO: Move this logic, together with the insert message logic and load messages on boot
-    #       into a "dual-store" message store implementation.
-    if w.isSqliteOnly: 
-      w.store.getMessagesByHistoryQuery(
-        contentTopic = qContentTopics,
-        pubsubTopic = qPubSubTopic,
-        cursor = qCursor,
-        startTime = qStartTime,
-        endTime = qEndTime,
-        maxPageSize = qMaxPageSize,
-        ascendingOrder = qAscendingOrder
-      )
-    else:
-      w.messages.getMessagesByHistoryQuery(
+  let queryStartTime = getTime().toUnixFloat()
+  
+  let queryRes = w.store.getMessagesByHistoryQuery(
         contentTopic = qContentTopics,
         pubsubTopic = qPubSubTopic,
         cursor = qCursor,
@@ -147,8 +146,8 @@ proc findMessages(w: WakuStore, query: HistoryQuery): HistoryResponse {.gcsafe.}
     error: HistoryResponseError.NONE
   )
 
-proc init*(ws: WakuStore, capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity) =
-
+proc initProtocolHandler*(ws: WakuStore) =
+  
   proc handler(conn: Connection, proto: string) {.async.} =
     let buf = await conn.readLp(MaxRpcSize.int)
 
@@ -163,7 +162,9 @@ proc init*(ws: WakuStore, capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity) =
     info "received history query", peerId=conn.peerId, requestId=req.requestId, query=req.query
     waku_store_queries.inc()
 
-    let resp = ws.findMessages(req.query)
+    let resp = if not ws.store.isNil(): ws.findMessages(req.query)
+               # TODO: Improve error reporting
+               else: HistoryResponse(error: HistoryResponseError.SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE)
 
     if not ws.wakuSwap.isNil():
       info "handle store swap", peerId=conn.peerId, requestId=req.requestId, text=ws.wakuSwap.text
@@ -181,89 +182,44 @@ proc init*(ws: WakuStore, capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity) =
 
   ws.handler = handler
   ws.codec = WakuStoreCodec
-  ws.messages = StoreQueueRef.new(capacity)
-
-  if ws.isSqliteOnly:
-    if ws.store.isNil():
-      warn "store not provided (nil)"
-      return
-
-    # Execute retention policy on initialization
-    if not ws.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-      let policy = ws.retentionPolicy.get()
-      let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(ws.store)
-      if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-        warn "an error occurred while applying the retention policy at init", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-
-    info "SQLite-only store initialized. Messages are *not* loaded into memory."
-
-    let numMessages = ws.store.getMessagesCount()
-    if numMessages.isOk():
-      debug "number of messages in persistent store", messageNum=numMessages.value
-      waku_store_messages.set(numMessages.value, labelValues = ["stored"])
-
-  # TODO: Move this logic, together with the insert message logic
-  #       into a "dual-store" message store implementation.
-  else: 
-    if ws.store.isNil():
-      return
-
-    # Execute retention policy before loading any messages into in-memory store
-    if not ws.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-      let policy = ws.retentionPolicy.get()
-      let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(ws.store)
-      if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-        warn "an error occurred while applying the retention policy at init", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-
-    info "loading messages from persistent storage"
-
-    let res = ws.store.getAllMessages()
-    if res.isOk():
-      for (receiverTime, msg, pubsubTopic) in res.value:
-        let index = Index.compute(msg, receiverTime, pubsubTopic)
-        discard ws.messages.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-
-      info "successfully loaded messages from the persistent store"
-    else: 
-      warn "failed to load messages from the persistent store", err = res.error()
-
-    let numMessages = ws.messages.getMessagesCount()
-    if numMessages.isOk():
-      debug "number of messages in in-memory store", messageNum=numMessages.value
-      waku_store_messages.set(numMessages.value, labelValues = ["stored"])
-
 
 proc init*(T: type WakuStore, 
            peerManager: PeerManager, 
            rng: ref rand.HmacDrbgContext,
-           store: MessageStore = nil, 
+           store: MessageStore, 
            wakuSwap: WakuSwap = nil, 
-           persistMessages = true,
-           capacity = StoreDefaultCapacity, 
-           isSqliteOnly = false,
            retentionPolicy=none(MessageRetentionPolicy)): T =
   let ws = WakuStore(
     rng: rng, 
     peerManager: peerManager, 
     store: store, 
     wakuSwap: wakuSwap, 
-    persistMessages: persistMessages, 
-    isSqliteOnly: isSqliteOnly,
     retentionPolicy: retentionPolicy
   )
-  ws.init(capacity)
+  ws.initProtocolHandler()
+
+  # TODO: Move to wakunode
+  # Execute retention policy on initialization
+  let retPolicyRes = ws.executeMessageRetentionPolicy()
+  if retPolicyRes.isErr():
+    warn "an error occurred while applying the retention policy at init", error=retPolicyRes.error
+
+  ws.reportStoredMessagesMetric()
+
   return ws
 
-
-# TODO: This should probably be an add function and append the peer to an array
-proc setPeer*(ws: WakuStore, peer: RemotePeerInfo) =
-  ws.peerManager.addPeer(peer, WakuStoreCodec)
-  waku_store_peers.inc()
+proc init*(T: type WakuStore, 
+           peerManager: PeerManager, 
+           rng: ref rand.HmacDrbgContext,
+           wakuSwap: WakuSwap = nil, 
+           retentionPolicy=none(MessageRetentionPolicy)): T =
+  let store = StoreQueueRef.new(StoreDefaultCapacity)
+  WakuStore.init(peerManager, rng, store, wakuSwap, retentionPolicy)
 
 
 proc handleMessage*(w: WakuStore, pubsubTopic: string, msg: WakuMessage) {.async.} =
-  if not w.persistMessages:
-    # Store is mounted but new messages should not be stored
+  if w.store.isNil():
+    # Messages should not be stored
     return
 
   if msg.ephemeral:
@@ -277,62 +233,32 @@ proc handleMessage*(w: WakuStore, pubsubTopic: string, msg: WakuMessage) {.async
 
   trace "handling message", topic=pubsubTopic, index=index
 
-  block:
-    if w.isSqliteOnly:
-      # Add messages to persistent store, if present
-      if w.store.isNil():
-        return
+  # Add messages to persistent store, if present
+  let putStoreRes = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
+  if putStoreRes.isErr():
+    debug "failed to insert message to persistent store", index=index, err=putStoreRes.error
+    waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
+    return
 
-      let resPutStore = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutStore.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to persistent store", index=index, err=resPutStore.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        return
-
-      # Execute the retention policy after insertion
-      if not w.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-        let policy = w.retentionPolicy.get()
-        let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(w.store)
-        if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-          debug "message retention policy failure", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-          waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-
-      reportMessagesCountMetric(w.store)
-
-    # TODO: Move this logic, together with the load from persistent store on init
-    #       into a "dual-store" message store implementation.
-    else:
-      # Add message to in-memory store
-      let resPutInmemory = w.messages.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutInmemory.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to in-memory store", index=index, err=resPutInmemory.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        return
-
-      reportMessagesCountMetric(w.messages)
-
-      # Add messages to persistent store, if present
-      if w.store.isNil():
-        return
-        
-      let resPutStore = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutStore.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to persistent store", index=index, err=resPutStore.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        return
-
-      # Execute the retention policy after insertion
-      if not w.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-        let policy = w.retentionPolicy.get()
-        let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(w.store)
-        if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-          debug "message retention policy failure", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-          waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
+  # Execute the retention policy after insertion
+  let retPolicyRes = w.executeMessageRetentionPolicy()
+  if retPolicyRes.isErr():
+    debug "message retention policy failure", error=retPolicyRes.error
+    waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [retPolicyFailure])
+  
+  w.reportStoredMessagesMetric()
 
   let insertDuration = getTime().toUnixFloat() - insertStartTime
   waku_store_insert_duration_seconds.observe(insertDuration)
 
 
+## CLIENT
+
+# TODO: This should probably be an add function and append the peer to an array
+proc setPeer*(ws: WakuStore, peer: RemotePeerInfo) =
+  ws.peerManager.addPeer(peer, WakuStoreCodec)
+  waku_store_peers.inc()
+
 # TODO: Remove after converting the query method into a non-callback method
 type QueryHandlerFunc* = proc(response: HistoryResponse) {.gcsafe, closure.}
 
@@ -376,6 +302,8 @@ proc query*(w: WakuStore, req: HistoryQuery): Future[WakuStoreResult[HistoryResp
 
 ## 21/WAKU2-FAULT-TOLERANT-STORE
 
+const StoreResumeTimeWindowOffset: Timestamp = getNanosecondTime(20)  ## Adjust the time window with an offset of 20 seconds
+
 proc queryFromWithPaging*(w: WakuStore, query: HistoryQuery, peer: RemotePeerInfo): Future[WakuStoreResult[seq[WakuMessage]]] {.async, gcsafe.} =
   ## A thin wrapper for query. Sends the query to the given peer. when the  query has a valid pagingInfo, 
   ## it retrieves the historical messages in pages.
@@ -390,7 +318,7 @@ proc queryFromWithPaging*(w: WakuStore, query: HistoryQuery, peer: RemotePeerInf
   while true:
     let res = await w.query(req, peer)
     if res.isErr(): 
-      return err(res.error())
+      return err(res.error)
 
     let response = res.get()
 
@@ -446,29 +374,27 @@ proc resume*(w: WakuStore,
   ## the resume proc returns the number of retrieved messages if no error occurs, otherwise returns the error string
   
   # If store has not been provided, don't even try
-  if w.isSqliteOnly and w.store.isNil():
-    return err("store not provided")
+  if w.store.isNil():
+    return err("store not provided (nil)")
 
+  # NOTE: Original implementation is based on the message's sender timestamp. At the moment
+  #       of writing, the sqlite store implementation returns the last message's receiver 
+  #       timestamp.
+  #  lastSeenTime = lastSeenItem.get().msg.timestamp
+  let 
+    lastSeenTime = w.store.getNewestMessageTimestamp().get(Timestamp(0))
+    now = getNanosecondTime(getTime().toUnixFloat())
 
-  var lastSeenTime = Timestamp(0)
-  var currentTime = getNanosecondTime(epochTime())
-
-  let lastSeenItem = w.messages.last()
-  if lastSeenItem.isOk():
-    lastSeenTime = lastSeenItem.get().msg.timestamp
-
-  # adjust the time window with an offset of 20 seconds
-  let offset: Timestamp = getNanosecondTime(20)
-  currentTime = currentTime + offset
-  lastSeenTime = max(lastSeenTime - offset, 0)
-
-  debug "the offline time window is", lastSeenTime=lastSeenTime, currentTime=currentTime
+  debug "resuming with offline time window", lastSeenTime=lastSeenTime, currentTime=now
 
+  let
+    queryEndTime = now + StoreResumeTimeWindowOffset
+    queryStartTime = max(lastSeenTime - StoreResumeTimeWindowOffset, 0)
 
   let req = HistoryQuery(
     pubsubTopic: pubsubTopic, 
-    startTime: lastSeenTime, 
-    endTime: currentTime, 
+    startTime: queryStartTime, 
+    endTime: queryEndTime,
     pagingInfo: PagingInfo(
       direction:PagingDirection.FORWARD, 
       pageSize: pageSize
@@ -498,70 +424,26 @@ proc resume*(w: WakuStore,
 
 
   # Save the retrieved messages in the store
-  var dismissed: uint = 0
   var added: uint = 0
-  
   for msg in res.get():
     let now = getNanosecondTime(getTime().toUnixFloat())
     let index = Index.compute(msg, receivedTime=now, pubsubTopic=pubsubTopic)
 
-    if w.isSqliteOnly:
-      # Add messages to persistent store
-      let resPutStore = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutStore.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to persistent store", index=index, err=resPutStore.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        continue
-      
-      # Execute the retention policy after insertion
-      if not w.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-        let policy = w.retentionPolicy.get()
-        let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(w.store)
-        if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-          debug "message retention policy failure", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-          waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
+    let putStoreRes = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
+    if putStoreRes.isErr():
+      continue
 
-    # TODO: Move this logic, together with the load from persistent store on init
-    #       into a "dual-store" message store implementation.
-    else:
-      # check for duplicate messages
-      # TODO: Should take pubsub topic into account if we are going to support topics rather than the DefaultTopic
-      if w.messages.contains(index):
-        dismissed.inc()
-        continue
-
-      # Add message to in-memory store
-      let resPutInmemory = w.messages.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutInmemory.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to in-memory store", index=index, err=resPutInmemory.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        continue
-
-      if w.store.isNil():
-        continue
-
-      # Add messages to persistent store
-      let resPutStore = w.store.put(index, msg, pubsubTopic)
-      if resPutStore.isErr():
-        debug "failed to insert message to persistent store", index=index, err=resPutStore.error()
-        waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-        continue
-      
-      # Execute the retention policy after insertion
-      if not w.retentionPolicy.isNone():
-        let policy = w.retentionPolicy.get()
-        let resRetPolicy = policy.execute(w.store)
-        if resRetPolicy.isErr():
-          debug "message retention policy failure", error=resRetPolicy.error()
-          waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [insertFailure])
-    
     added.inc()
 
-  debug "resume finished successfully", addedMessages=added, dimissedMessages=dismissed
+  debug "resume finished successfully", retrievedMessages=res.get().len, addedMessages=added
+
+  # Execute the retention policy after insertion
+  let retPolicyRes = w.executeMessageRetentionPolicy()
+  if retPolicyRes.isErr():
+    debug "message retention policy failure", error=retPolicyRes.error
+    waku_store_errors.inc(labelValues = [retPolicyFailure])
   
-  let store: MessageStore = if w.isSqliteOnly: w.store
-                            else: w.messages
-  reportMessagesCountMetric(store)
+  w.reportStoredMessagesMetric()
 
   return ok(added)
 
@@ -578,7 +460,7 @@ proc queryWithAccounting*(ws: WakuStore, req: HistoryQuery): Future[WakuStoreRes
 
   let res = await ws.query(req, peerOpt.get())
   if res.isErr():
-    return err(res.error())
+    return err(res.error)
 
   let response = res.get()
 
diff --git a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/rpc.nim b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/rpc.nim
index 02215895f..2216bde1e 100644
--- a/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/rpc.nim
+++ b/waku/v2/protocol/waku_store/rpc.nim
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type
     ## HistoryResponseError contains error message to inform  the querying node about the state of its request
     NONE = uint32(0)
     INVALID_CURSOR = uint32(1)
+    SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE = uint32(503)
 
   HistoryResponse* = object
     messages*: seq[WakuMessage]