By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
“Everyone points to the digital revolution,” stated Jim McCree, general manager of the family-owned Mr. Paperback chain, “but ultimately when the big chain stores, like Walmart, started selling books — that’s when the downfall of independent bookstores began.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Employees at Mr. Paperback in Caribou chat with Jim McCree, general manager for the family-owned Maine bookstore chain, as they work near empty bookracks. All 10 of the Mr. Paperback locations throughout the state will be closed by the end of the month. From left are: Kristina Drinkall, store manager since 2004; McCree, Donna Chapman who has been employed at the local store for nearly 19 years; and Danny Ouellette, a 7-year staff member.
McCree was in at the Caribou Mr. Paperback location last week, as staff members continued with the store’s final days of operation. The bookracks stand empty now— no sign of the extraordinary variety of authors/titles they displayed for nearly 22 years. The magazines that formerly consumed an entire wall (and part of the back) have also disappeared, along with the extensive greeting card selection and the gift items. Aside from the carpet being in need of cleaning, the retail area looked much the same as it did in early August 1990, just prior to its opening later that month, in the Skyway Plaza.
Although the downfall began with the big chains selling books at discounted prices, this was followed by the increase in digital technology awareness. “Unfortunately many people are reading less,” said McCree, “but let’s face it when households have access to 150 television stations, Xboxes, Wii, Facebook, YouTube, etc. we search where we can get what we want — instantly.”
McCree noted that at one time travel books were one of the biggest selling categories, with how-to titles right there beside them, “Now if you want to learn how to do something, from knitting to electrical wiring, all you have to do is go online. Regarding travel books, individuals go online, read about where they are traveling to, book everything including their sightseeing trips all at once online,” added McCree. “The only exception might be when a family was planning a trip to Disney — then they might still use the travel volumes as a resource.”
“The economic crisis, when it really hit everyone in 2008-09, really gave digital books the bumps it needed — it became pretty attractive for people to download the book(s) they wanted or in essence — carry an entire library with them,” McCree stated. “Bookstores in airports used to be very busy, passengers with any spare time between flights would stop in and pick up something to read while traveling but now they have the IPad, IPod, Kindles, etc.”
“Technology has slowly been chipping away at book sales for a number of years now, even magazine advertising targets the online readers, allowing them a greater audience,” said McCree. “Ultimately, every product we sold be it books, magazines, gifts or greeting cards, everything came under siege by new technology. The last 10-12 years we have been treading water and when the big technology boom hit — we just found ourselves going deeper.”
“I’m going to miss my customers, this is so sad,” said Donna Chapman, a sales associate at Mr. Paperback for what would have been 19 years on Aug. 25. “I developed such good relationships with so many of our customers — sometimes if they didn’t come in I would call them, just to see if they were OK.”
“It’s been a pleasure working here,” continued Chapman, “after having such a nice job for so many years it’s going to be hard. I wish a heartfelt goodbye to all of my customers — it’s been a pleasure serving them.”
“I’m very sad,” said Kristina Drinkall, store manager since 2004, “not only for us (employees) but for the community. We need a bookstore. I will miss my very dedicated staff and all of our customers.” Drinkall has also been the manager at the Presque Isle mall location of Mr. Paperback since it opened there two years ago.
A member of the Mr. Paperback staff for seven years, Danny Ouellette echoes her manager and co-worker’s statements saying, “This is very sad and I am definitely going to miss my co-workers, the customers — and the books.”
McCree, who has worked with the company for the past 18 years, stated that the decision to close the Mr. Paperback stores didn’t come quickly or without a sense of loss. “This has been a very painful decision for the Foss family to make. They (and myself) have never taken for granted the customers who have so loyally shown their support to the Mr. Paperback stores over the years.
Mr. Paperback and its sister company, Magainzes, Inc. (distributor for books, magazines and newspapers statewide) both located in Bangor, was established in the 1960s by John and Evelyn Foss. The companies were passed on to their children Robert Foss, who is retired; Ralph Foss, Penney Robichaud and Pamela Williams.
At the time the decision was made to cease operations, there were 10 Mr. Paperback locations including Augusta, Bangor, Belfast, Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, Farmington, Skowhegan, Waterville, Presque Isle and Caribou.
According to McCree negotiations are taking place to sell Magazines, Inc. to Hudson News based in Worcester, Mass., which would move the distribution center to a Gorham facility, taking over for Magazine Inc. accounts. It was also noted that Hudson News had little interest in taking over the Mr. Paperback stores resulting in all locations being closed by the end of April.
