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Friday, May 24, 2013
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
Ray Stellingwerf recently expanded Paperback Paradise into a much larger storefront on Main Street in Dallas, and has a large selection of DVDs as well as books.
June 26, 2012
DALLAS -- Moving from a 1,000-square-foot store to one with more than four times the space has been quite an adjustment for Paperback Paradise owner Ray Stellingwerf.
The used bookstore changed locations from a small storefront on Mill Street to half of the former Ray's Home and Garden on Main Street last week.
"I was outgrowing the space," Stellingwerf said of why he decided to move. "It got to the point I couldn't move around anymore."
With 4,200 square feet in the new store, he doesn't have that problem anymore. In fact, he now has room to expand not only the number of books he carries, but venture into other products. Stellingwerf incorporated DVD sales into the former store in December and has plans to add CDs as soon as he can install racks.
Even after those additions, there is still enough room for Stellingwerf's brother, George, to sell collectibles, including coins and stamps.
Ray Stellingwerf will continue to sell Lionel Trains as he did in his former location. He will also offer DVD and CD repair.
"You can't just rely on one thing," he said. "To stay open, you need to expand into whatever you can."
Stellingwerf said business has been fairly steady since he opened Paperback Paradise last September.
"It's been getting better slowly," he said.
Increasing his visibly was another reason for the move.
"The side street (Mill) didn't offer the traffic count that Main Street does," Stellingwerf said, adding parking also was limited.
He believes both issues will be resolved with the move to Main Street.
"It was sad to see this huge building not being utilized," he said of the former hardware store that has been empty since October 2010. "Now it is."
Paperback Paradise opened in its new location June 18, after a hurried two-day move June 16-17.
"I'm very blessed to have so many helpful friends," Stellingwerf said with a laugh.
He's been pleased to see many new faces stop in since the reopening.
"About 80 percent of the (people) who have come in the last two days have all been new," he said last week, a few days after the move.
Stellingwerf said he'll spend the next few months rearranging the store to accommodate his growing business.
"Be patient with the expansion, because it's going to take a while," he said.
New Location
What: Paperback Paradise.
Where: 742 Main St., Suite B, Dallas.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Of note: Paperback Paradise buys and sell used books, CDs and DVDs. All items are guaranteed.
For more information: 503-751-1190.
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