Nicely done pottz.
Idea: if you had a 3/6" of ply under the place mats it would act as a slide. This way you can pull out the stack of pace mats out and take way you need and slide the rest back in.
I did that for my golf shoes for my locker. 2 pair per slide. Guys are now copying my slides.
Just a thought.
You could hide the end grain with something cool.