TRAVELER’S COMPANY Partner Shops are stores around the world that embody and share the spirit of TRAVELER’S notebook with fans and users. Not only can you browse the whole TRAVELER’S COMPANY product lineup, but you can also share your enthusiasm with the store owners who are also TRAVELER’S notebook users. In this series, we will take you on a virtual trip to visit Partner Shops around the US. Learn about their charm, the experience, and the neighborhood that brings the TRAVELER’S notebook experience together.
The Paper Mouse – West Newton, Massachusetts
Located just outside the bustling city of Boston, West Newton is a suburb that offers a blend of small-town charm and history. Nestled on Washington Street is The Paper Mouse, a neighborhood stationery and paper goods store run by Victor Lee and his wife, Jenny Zhang.
Victor opened The Paper Mouse in 2015, but his connection to stationery and business spans many years before opening the shop. Before opening The Paper Mouse, Victor spent nearly ten years helping a friend develop their e-commerce and wholesale stationery business.
“My background is in engineering, and I’ve always loved to make things with my hands. At my friend’s stationery company, we built elaborate trade show displays every season that only were used for a few days out of the year. I thought, wouldn’t it be great to build these types of displays and be able to use them year-round? I loved the idea of a brick-and-mortar store where I could shape the atmosphere with the things I built. We opened The Paper Mouse in 2015. Coincidentally, that was the same year that Jenny and I got married—we became partners in life in more ways than one.”
West Newton is a cozy and friendly neighborhood with a strong sense of community. Its high concentration of schools attracts families, and The Paper Mouse serves visitors of all ages, from kids to grandparents. While being a suburb of Boston, West Newton is not far from exciting attractions such as museums, restaurants, and historical sites. It also offers the beauty of nature and the charm of neighboring towns in New England.
“I was born and raised in West Newton, and Jenny and I have made our home here. West Newton Square is where I spent my childhood, watching movies, ordering pizza, and grabbing an ice cream cone. My dad’s and grandpa’s businesses were both in Newton, so it felt like a natural choice for me to build my business here too. Owning a business in the place where my family lives has allowed Jenny and me to be part of our community in a really special way.”
The Paper Mouse shop has a classic, vintage ambiance with its wooden furniture and self-built displays, matching TRAVELER’S COMPANY’s spirit and aesthetic. The walls are lined with wooden shelves, displaying beautiful stationery featuring local artists and makers. You can also find fine-writing instruments and bottled fountain pen inks that go well with the journaling hobby.
The Paper Mouse’s first encounter with TRAVELER’S notebook is at a trade show where Victor is working for his friend’s company. The soft, vintage-looking leather notebook reminded him of Indiana Jones’ journal, and it sparked a sense of wanderlust and exploration. As he started using his TRAVELER’S notebook, he appreciated how beautifully the cover aged over time.
“It’s so much fun to see how different people use their TRAVELER’S notebooks. When we hosted the Stamp Caravan this year, a customer came in with her dog, who had his very own TRAVELER’S notebook that had been stamped at multiple caravans in past years. She held her dog up to the table and helped him stamp the book. Another customer used the Card File refill to hold ink swatches for her fountain inks.”
Victor and Jenny are both avid TRAVELER’S notebook users, both enjoy using the system to document their summer travels and share the stories with customers who visit the store. If you are in doubt, they are happy to share their recommendations on how they use their notebooks. The Paper Mouse team’s favorite accessory is the 031 Sticker Release Paper because of the childhood nostalgia of sticker books.
They also recommend the perforated pages of the 012 Sketch Paper notebook, which is convenient to remove and share with friends.
“We always recommend the TRAVELER’S notebook starter kits. Since the notebook is so versatile, almost anyone can find a way to use it and make it their own. This makes it a great gift, too, because the recipient can customize it however, they like.”
When visiting Boston on your next trip, don’t forget to visit The Paper Mouse while you take in its New England charm. The design on their Partner Shop stamp shows a blue lobster – not only is a lobster representative of New England, but one out of every 2 million lobsters are blue, so they are special and rare. The Paper Mouse hopes that you can treasure your visit to their store as one of a kind.
1274 Washington St
West Newton, MA 02465
Have a nice trip!
