Used furniture business opens in Paris

Photo: Sharon Bouchard

NEED FURNITURE? — Jack Floster, left, and Rod Leavitt stand with one of the many pieces they offer at Rock Bottom in Paris.

PARIS – Whether you are starting a new home with bare walls or your tired old sofa needs to be replaced, Rock Bottom will probably have what you’re looking for.

Located in the Cornwall Plaza on Route 26 right next to Save a Lot, Rock Bottom specialized in gently used furniture, household goods and a variety of other items, the newly opened store will fill a niche between expensive new furniture and expensive antiques.

Jack Floster of West Paris and Rod Leavitt of Auburn opened the used furniture store on August 1, and they have been very happy with the community’s response.

“We’re seeing new faces every day and we’re starting to have some repeat customers,” said Floster. “Our inventory changes pretty quickly and we’re always bringing in new items so you see something different every time you come in.”

The idea for Rock Bottom came about when Floster, along with his wife Lisa as proprietors of the West Paris General Store, ran out of room to feature a sideline of used furniture.

Floster teamed up with Leavitt, a family friend and former truck driver, to find a good location and get the store up and running.

“This is a great spot,” said Leavitt. “Save a Lot is a busy store and a lot of people shopping there will stop in here too. Plus there’s plenty of parking so it’s easy in and out.”

As well as good quality used furniture, shoppers will find a variety of household items, some collectibles, occasionally an appliance, CD’s, DVDs, linens, dishes, some toys and a small assortment of books and cookbooks, which the partners plan to expand in the future. Even a snow blower featured in the center of the showroom was available for purchase.

“We obtain our merchandise through estate sales and various other outlets, but it has to be in perfect condition, ready to go and at a low enough price so our customers can get a good deal and we can still make a living,” said Floster.

“We try to buy good solid and clean items,” added Leavitt. “I always ask myself if I would put that item in my own home and if the answer is 'no' then we won’t put it in our store either.”

“It’s a tough economy and this area has been especially hard hit,” said Floster. “It feels good to provide a much needed service at affordable prices. Everyone at some point needs to buy a bed or a sofa or a dining room table and just can’t afford to buy them new. We hope to be able to provide what they need at a price that will fit their budget.”

A plan for the near future is to convert one corner of the showroom into a “Man Cave” where tools, sporting equipment and items of a more masculine nature will be found.

Though most of the merchandise in the store is used there are some new items available such as fixed blade knives and toy cars. As the Christmas season approaches the number of new items suitable for gift giving may also expand.

“We are keeping our options open,” said Leavitt. “If something talks to us or if it’s a bit quirky or unusual we’ll probably get it. Generally we deal with traditional solid wood furniture and standard household goods, but if we came across something that is a little non-traditional but useful it will end up on our showroom floor.”

Rock Bottom is open from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. seven days a week.