BangorAnother bookstore chain is biting the dust—this one a small regional chain with ten locations in Maine. Mr. Paperback has been around for over 50 years, but is closing its doors by the end of April. The store’s sister company, a magazine and newspaper distributor called Magazines Inc., is being bought out. Mr. Paperback’s 80 employees and Magazines Inc.’s 40 employees will be laid off.

[Co-owner Penny] Robichaud said changes in the book industry and finances were the reasons for closing.

“It’s due to gas prices and a changing industry — Amazon, the Internet, Kindle — people don’t need the printed materials as much as we used to,” said Robichaud.

Coming so soon after the Borders closure, are we seeing the beginning of a trend? Might other small regional chains be the next to go?

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