Paper Store launches $60 million expansion plan; debuts new retail concept
The Paper Store is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the launch of a new retail banner and entry into a new market.
The specialty gifts retailer unveiled the new concept, Uncharted, with a 12,000-sq.-ft. location at The Shops at Oak Brook Place in Oak Brook, Ill. Additional locations are slated to open across the country in 2025 as part of The Paper Store’s $60 million investment in new and existing stores over the next five years as it continues to expand into new markets, including the Midwest.
Created by the team that built The Paper Store, Uncharted has evolving selection of emerging and leading brands, ranging from Stanley and Jellycat to Kendra Scott and Free People, across categories that include home decor, apparel, accessories, beauty and kids & baby. It also features proprietary brands Uncharted Threads and Mia + Tess.
Uncharted also offers unique in-store experiences such as ear piercing, a jewelry charm bar, product personalization events and seasonal events including free pictures with Santa every weekend during the holidays.
“The opening of our first Uncharted store represents an exciting new chapter for our company," said Tom Anderson, president and CEO of The Paper Store, which has more than 100 stores in in the Northeast and Florida. "Rooted in the Northeast, our entry into the Chicago area reflects our ongoing evolution and commitment to bringing our brand to new regions. Uncharted is a new retail destination that builds on the beloved experience customers have come to expect from The Paper Store."
The Paper Store has expanded from its origins as a family-run newspaper stand, launched in 1964 in Maynard, Mass. It remains owned by the founding Anderson family.
"We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers and community for supporting us over the past 60 years," said Anderson. "Our expansion plans over the next several years represent our commitment to reinvesting in our community with the same dedication and passion that has defined our family-run business for decades."
