Our Story

The Paper Mouse is the creation of husband-and-wife team Victor Lee and Jenny Zhang. The shop was a new beginning for the couple in 2015 after life changes prompted them to rethink their careers. Jenny had recently settled down in Newton and wanted to connect with her neighbors, while Victor felt disconnected from his community after 20 years spent working in the high tech industry. His father and grandfather had both owned business in Newton, and he wanted to revisit his childhood dream of following in their footsteps. A shop in their village square, they decided, could fulfill both their wishes. 

And thus The Paper Mouse was born. With the help of their good friends Felix and Loren, owners of the stationery company Felix Doolittle, they transformed a narrow little space in West Newton Square into a cozy shop and began filling it with the things they love. They wanted to create a unique destination for the community to visit, a place that would bring feelings of joy and fond memories of childhood. Stationery was a natural fit: Jenny has always loved letter writing, and Victor the math-and-science-lover has an enthusiasm for mechanical pencils and graph paper pads. Soon they expanded into gifts to share their love of all things cute, small and unique. 

With his background in engineering, Victor wants customers to feel comfortable getting hands-on and testing the products. Jenny, with her love of small, cute things and handmade items, has shaped the special curated mix of products at the shop. Above all, they both believe in the importance of hospitality and accessibility, and they’ve worked to create a space where everyone will feel comfortable and welcome, with something for everyone to enjoy.