Memory Lane : Paper Bear
Heartworks Co./Paper Bear opened in 1978 by Carol Powers. Carol had trouble finding a job, so she decided to start the novelty shop to sell her handmade pottery and jewelry. She successfully ran the shop for 41 years before her retirement in 2019.
“Shopping Like It Oughta Be ... Since 1978!”
While Paper Bear isn’t in business anymore, they still have a list of products they used to sell.
You could find just about anything in Paper Bear. From stationary to metal farm animals, there wasn’t a bare wall in the place. When San Marcos locals had a birthday or holiday coming up, they’d stop into the store and find something new every time. They even had cats over the years who lived in the store and greeted customers.
Owner Carol Powers said the eclectic inventory came mostly from customer requests. People would go looking for something, and if they didn’t have it Carol would find a way to order it. These items were sourced from small businesses around Texas, which is what made their inventory so special. Plus, it was always affordable!
Paper Bear’s feline mascot