Shopping
Boothbay is home to a number of unique shops (no chains stores here!) and art galleries. Some of my favorite shops are:
- TidePools (10 Commercial St.) is fairly new in the harbor and the concept is new as well. It’s a shared retail space, with a little bit of everything. It’s a great place for souvenir and local crafts shopping and the back houses some antiques. Attached to the retail space is Maria Boord’s art gallery (also highly recommended!)
- Sweet Bay (9 Townsend Ave) also offers an array of lovely crafts, artwork, jewelry and home goods.
- The Smiling Cow (14 Commercial St.): While you have to sift through a bit of junk to find the pearls, the Smiling Cow was my favorite shop when I was three years old and I still won’t visit Boothbay without dropping in—I always manage to find something to buy! It’s a great spot to pick up toys for the kids. Be sure to visit Gimbel & Sons Country Store, attached to the Smiling Cow, for more gifts and clothing.
- AE Home showcases Alison Evans’ beautiful ceramics as well as furniture, clothing and other gifts.
The Smiling Cow and Gimbel & Sons
- The Mung Bean (37 Townsend Ave): Another friendly neighbor, the Mung Bean houses several rooms of Maine and American handcrafts. Do mention that you are staying next door at Back Bay Cottage.
- The Village Store (34 Townsend Ave): Wind your way through 7 rooms of home goods and other gifts.
- The Boothbay Region Art Foundation website lists galleries and studios in the region. Their gallery is located at 1 Townsend Ave in the heart of downtown and serves as a gallery for up-and-coming artists.
- Footbridge Gifts (8 Bridge St.) has a great collection of local gifts, home decorations and food products, many at very reasonable prices.
- Sherman’s (5 Commercial St.) A trip to Boothbay is never complete without a (daily) visit to Sherman’s, to pick up the morning paper, sift through the books on the upper level, or buy a gift to bring back home.
- Friends of the Library Used Bookstore (McKown St., behind the Memorial Library, (207) 633-3112).
- There are a handful of antiques shops in Boothbay, although for more avid antiques collectors, you should be sure to visit the antique shops in Wiscasset.