Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Though much has changed since Joseph Sleeper first opened Sleeper’s Market in 1914, many of the operating principles remain the same.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Sleeper’s is currently owned by three of Joseph’s grandchildren, Joseph Jr. II, David and Mark Sleeper. Representing the third generation of “owners in the store” are, from left, Joeseph Jr. II, David and Mark Sleeper. “I think my grandfather would be happy with the store,” said co-owner of Sleeper’s, David Sleeper, grandchild of Joseph Sleeper. “Customer service was very important to him, so I think he’d be happy to know that we still take out people’s groceries,” David Sleeper added, “also, I think he’d be pleased to see that we’re in the same location; it probably would have been easier at times to move, but we’ve worked with what we have.”
Having had to remodel the location a dozen times, the basement of the building, where most of the apparel is sold, still shows the hand hewed support beams that have supported the business for 95 years as well as the original steps that led customers from the groceries to the soft goods, or apparel, in the general store.
“We still offer soft goods and groceries, so that hasn’t changed,” explained David Sleeper, “but they type of groceries has. Back then it was a lot of bulk foods,” he added, “there were no freezers, no frozen foods, and the only seafood that was ever sold was salted in the winter months.”
Keeping up with the drastic lifestyle changes, the Country has undergone during the past 95 years, Sleeper’s has adapted to keep up with the times.
“Increased product diversity is a mandatory thing now because people’s needs have changed,” David Sleeper said. “Back when we first started, fresh produce didn’t happen during the winter unless it could be stored,” he added, “but now, you wouldn’t think of going into a grocery store that didn’t have fresh produce; I don’t know if people think about how many things need to happen in order to bring up string beans from California, but it’s expected at this point.”
Sleeper’s meets, if not surpasses, those expectations with their extensive produce section, and plans to continue offering a wide variety of products to meet the needs of their customers.
As cold weather specialists, they also carry one of the largest selections of brand name outerwear, including Carhartt, Columbia, The North Face® and Merrell, according to David Sleeper.
“We plan to keep growing and improving within this location, as well as continue offering good customer service,” said David Sleeper, “hopefully we can continue in our niche by understanding the people up here and what they’re looking for better than a big box store does, and we can react to our customers’ needs more quickly while continuing to offer low prices and good, quality service.”
Started in a time before women could vote and well before man ever went to the moon, Sleeper’s has seen a significant portion of American history unfold before them.
“We’ve seen a lot of economic times, from the Great Depression to the boom time when the Loring Air Force Base was coming,” said David Sleeper, “we’ve seen a lot of chain stores coming, going, and expanding throughout different eras; we’ve had a lot of support throughout the years and have managed to keep going through may different times,” he added.
Sleeper’s is currently owned by three of Joseph’s grandchildren, David, Joseph Jr. II, and Mark Sleeper.
