What happened to Dunder Mifflin post The Office? The Paper finally has an answer

The Paper with its release has answered a question that fans have been asking ever since The Office came to an end: What became of Dunder Mifflin?

Now it turns out that the Scranton branch we knew and loved has shut its doors, and a new name has stepped in. A Toledo-based company called Enervate purchased Dunder Mifflin in 2019, absorbing it into a larger paper empire.

In true mockumentary fashion, The Paper shows us how it all happened, and why the story still continues.

Scranton’s empty desks and a surprise cameo

If you tune in to The Paper, the first thing you notice is how it starts with a reference to the iconic show, The Office. The documentary crew returns 20 years later to the same Scranton Business Park where it all started.

However, this time, the space that once held Michael Scott's chaotic branch is occupied by One and Done Laser, a tattoo removal and laser eye clinic. The building is still buzzing with businesses, yet Dunder Mifflin is gone.

That's where an old friend shows up - Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration. Still married to Phyllis, he casually drops the truth we have all been waiting to hear: Dunder Mifflin hasn't been around "for a while." He even laughs about how Phyllis was asked if she wanted to relocate to Toledo when the company changed hands, but Scranton was home, and moving was never an option.

Bob also lets slip that some of the old crew, like Stanley, still keep in touch. Fans will appreciate the little details, like both families owning Schnoodles, which is exactly the kind of mundane-yet-charming tidbit The Office always relied on. It is bittersweet, though, because it confirms that the Scranton chapter is closed.

From Scranton to Toledo: The Paper reveals how Dunder Mifflin lives on

Just when fans think Dunder Mifflin's story is over, The Paper connects the dots. Through local chamber records, Bob reveals that in 2019, the company was purchased by Enervate, a Toledo-based paper supplier.

This isn't just copy paper anymore. Enervate sells everything from janitorial products to toilet tissue, and even runs local newspapers. In other words, Dunder Mifflin didn't die - it just became part of something bigger.

This is where the new series truly begins. The action shifts from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where Enervate's headquarters doubles as home to a struggling local paper, the Toledo Truth Teller. Enter a fresh group of characters, including editor-in-chief Ned Samson, who's determined to bring life back into an old newsroom.

In a neat twist for The Office faithful, however, Oscar Martinez (played again by Oscar Nuñez) shows up as Enervate's accountant. That simple connection ties the past to the present, grounding the new series in a familiar universe.

What's clever here is how The Paper balances nostalgia with something new. Dunder Mifflin's boxes still appear on screen, reminding us the brand lives on, but this is not a reboot. It is a passing of the torch. The documentary crew that once captured every awkward conference room meeting is now focusing on the messy survival of local journalism.

Dunder Mifflin may no longer exist in Scranton, but its story isn't over. The Paper reveals that the company was absorbed by Enervate and now connects directly to the Toledo Truth Teller.

While The Office closed the chapter on Scranton in 2013, the mockumentary lens has simply shifted to new desks, new chaos, and a fresh workplace to explore.

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