CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A mainstay of Fair Oaks Boulevard services for 20 years, Mel’s Copy Plus has closed its doors.

Owner Mel Piercey farewelled customers last week and will spend most of March selling equipment, furniture and supplies. He opened shop at Landis Avenue in 2000 and later claimed premises near Stanley Avenue. Friendly and capable, the merchant prospered. “Business was good,” he reflects. “My location suited people who didn’t want to drive across town. I went the extra mile to make them happy.”

Closure follows two tough years. Fair Oaks Boulevard reconstruction curbed access to his shop for many months. Carmichael’s homeless crisis obliged him to clear camper trash (including human waste) from his doorstep most days. “Then COVID came,” sighs Piercey. “My landlord and I came to an understanding. I opened for two hours a day. But customers tended to stay home. When things started improving, I expected to recover.”

Supply shortages hit next. “Specialty paper I use for the majority of my business is not available,” he explains. “I hear it’s stuck on ships in Los Angeles. An order I placed in August arrived mid-February. Now there’s hardly any paper on the entire West Coast. I own my equipment; I do my repairs and I’ve limped along. But the final straw was when I couldn’t find machine parts. I managed to get the last return unit for my main copier in the entire United States. Without parts, there’s nothing I can do. So I’m closing.”

South African Piercey immigrated with his parents and sister in 1976. “We had two suitcases each,” he recalls. “America’s been spectacularly good to us.” Following a 20-year career in corporate health administration, his print shop allowed hands-on customer connection. Piercey’s parents, nephews and nieces helped at counter. A gray parrot called Storm often accompanied the boss to work.

Customers appreciated Piercey’s patience: immigrants trusted him with confidential papers; he faxed benefit forms for veterans; death certificates for tearful widows. He helped fledgling entrepreneurs put flyers together. He spotted typos and tweaked design. An unerring taste was part of the service.

Non-profits achieved special rates. “Helping the community always pays off,” reasons the merchant. “Service club members usually come back as regular customers. People like working with someone who knows what they’re doing. That doesn’t always happen in big stores. I’ve had guys leave credit cards or wallets on my counter.  They knew they’d get them back. One customer regularly drove here from Elk Grove. She cried when I said I was closing.”

Orangevale resident Piercey plans travels with his ageing parents and might eventually channel his skills back to the corporate world. “Whatever happens, I’ll miss my customers,” he says. “It’s been such a habit to come here every day for 20 years; I’d open up and see familiar people come through my door.  I’ve been glad to help every one of them.”

Piercey will sell off store contents during March. Mel’s Copy Plus is located at 6526 Fair Oaks Boulevard. Telephone: (916) 972 8192.