By Nic Sleeper
CMS, Grade 7
Our family business all started when my great-grandfather, Joseph, came from Lebanon to America after taking a stop in Columbia. In 1912 he arrived and by 1914 he started the grocery business (using his skills from pedaling in Lebanon). His family grew and so did his business; Sleeper’s has been renovated approximately 15 times. Joseph passed on his business skills to his children and most of them have owned their own businesses.
His children, (Joe and Nelson) took over the business in 1956 bringing the store to a whole new level by expanding the clothing department. With Loring Air Force Base booming, so was business. The store continued to evolve in new ways. Their families also grew with many of them taking an interest in the business. The tradition thrived as three of their sons purchased the family business in 1992. But when Loring Air Force Base closed, they had to get a little more creative in the methods of finance. Opening up Expect More Dollar Stores and Trader Joe’s Clothing. While my cousin, Joe, (cold weather specialist) branched out into the southern Maine market opening stores in Bangor and Ellsworth. As bigger corporations moved to Aroostook County, our stores have to adapt yet again (which is vital to being a successful small business). The two dollar stores had to be changed to 10 Below stores.
During the summers and occasional weekends, my siblings and I work at the store. The store provides a unique experience for everyone in the family allowing us to manage our earnings. We learn to work even the most tedious tasks such as cleaning old bottles to recycle. I’m proud of my family business and I’m happy to contribute any way possible. Though I will never own the store, I will always use the skills I learn there and will use them in my future.
