While 75 percent of Maine summer days are rain-free, when the skies do open, it’s great to have activities planned. There’s always movies, arcades and bowling. However, it’s tough to fill the entire day with these pastimes.
If you are looking for what we like to call shoppertainment — aka shopping entertainment — there are Maine stalwarts like Renys and Marden’s as well as a day trip to LL Bean. Outlets also abound. Heck, southern Maine even has a Costco if you are jonesing for a visit to the warehouse.
Shopping Maine Consignment Stores and Thrift Shops
Still, if you want something different that won’t break the bank, consider thrift and consignment shops. There are countless shopping opportunities between Portsmouth NH and Portland to explore.
Of course, you could start with Goodwill and the Salvation Army for clothing, toys and home furnishings. There are multiple locations for these stores across the region.
If you are into furniture, home goods, tools or building supplies, there are also several Habitat for Humanity Restore outlets along the southern seacoast. Nationwide resale chains such as Play it Again Sports and Plato’s Closet can also be found.
The more unique, one-off shops abound in Southern Maine but are harder to identify. Here is a listing of some of our favorites. Many are along Route 1, so finding them should be straightforward. If we’ve missed one that you love, let us know in the comments and we’ll check it out. Finally, many of these locations are included in our article about where to donate your used goods.
Portsmouth, NH
Esta Resale
https://estaresale.com
This Bay Street shop focuses on women’s clothing and accessories.
Hart and Home
https://www.facebook.com/HartandHomeDecor
This York Street shop focuses on quality used furnishings.
Sweet Pea
https://www.sweetpeaportsmouth.com
The Brewery Lane shop carries kid’s clothes, toys and gear.
Wear House
https://wearhouseportsmouth.com
Located on Market Street, The Wear House carries women’s clothing and accessories.
Kittery & York
The Fabulous Find
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064693506175
This shop on Route 1 in Kittery carries housewares and clothing. Each month profits are donated to a local nonprofit.
Fair Tide Thrift Store
Fair Tide Web Page
This shop on Route 1 in Kittery carries clothing, housewares and eclectic finds. Proceeds go to fight homelessness.
Lost Coast
https://www.facebook.com/lostcoastme
This shop on Route 1 in Kittery carries vintage, collectable and offbeat items.
Share the Love Consignment
https://sharetheloveconsignment.com/
This Kittery shop focuses on women’s clothing and accessories.
Upscale Resale
https://www.facebook.com/UpscaleResaleOnline
As its name implies, this Route 1 shop in York specializes in higher-end women’s clothing and accessories.
YSCA Thrift Shop
https://www.ycsame.org/thrift-shop
This Route 1 shop carries clothes, accessories, housewares and furniture. Proceeds support the good works of the York Community Service Association.
Sanford, Wells & Ogunquit
Ditty Box
https://www.facebook.com/dittyboxthriftshop
On Route 1 in Wells, this shop carries clothing, shoes and household items.
Pip’s Second Hand Shop
https://www.facebook.com/Pipssecondhandshop
This Sanford vendor carries furniture, decorative items and housewares.
Safe Haven’s Vintage, Thrift and Consignment Shop
Safe Haven Webpage
On Route 1 in Wells, this shop carries mostly furniture and decorative items. We’ve purchased a few house furnishings there in the past. Safe Haven benefits the local no-kill cat rescue, Safe Haven Humane Society. Be warned: there are rescue cats roaming the store, great if you love felines, not great if you’re afraid of or allergic to them.
Threads of Hope
https://www.ccmaine.org/thrift-store
This used clothing, shoes and housewares shop in Sanford supports Catholic Charities.
Time and Again
https://www.facebook.com/p/Time-and-Again-Consignment-Shop-100057617433045/
Also on Route 1 in Wells, this shop carries clothing and housewares.
The Kennebunks & Arundel
Beach Tree Thrift Store
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557611104980
A newcomer on Route 1 in Arundel, this shop carries clothing and household goods. Purchases support the Community Outreach Services of the Kennebunks, which helps people in need with food, fuel and other necessities. As the newest thrift shop in Southern Maine, we’re hoping to get there soon.
Eileen’s Attic
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551884230161
This Route 1 staple offers decorative items and household goods.
Fresh Start Boutique
https://www.freshstartboutique.com
Located on Main Street in Kennebunk’s upper village, this shop carries new and consigned women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
Melissa’s Mighty Finds
https://www.facebook.com/MelissasMightyFinds
Located along Route 1 in Arundel, this shop carries just about everything, from accessories to decor to furniture.
Outta the Box
Outta the Box Website
Supporting the nearby New School at the southern end of Main Street in Kennebunk, this shop offers household goods, some furniture, shoes and clothes.
St. David’s Budget Box
St. David’s Website
Along Route 1 between downtown Kennebunk and Wells, the Budget box features clothing and household items. Proceeds support St. David’s Episcopal Church.
Portland, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth
Artemis Plus Size Resale
https://www.artemisplussize.com
Located on Ocean Street in South Portland, the shop specializes in plus sized women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
Fox + Doe
https://www.foxanddoeshop.com
This Cape Elizabeth shop offers women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
Haberdashery Resale Clothing
https://www.haberdasheryresale.com/
Women’s clothing and accessories. Shops in both Portland and Freeport.
Heirloom Consignments
https://heirloomconsignments.com
Located on Ocean Street in South Portland, this shop carries home furnishings and decor.
Little Ghost
https://www.littleghostvintage.com
On Forest Avenue in Portland, this shop specializes in vintage clothing and assorted small items.
Madlyn’s
https://www.madlyns.co
This Portland shop carries women clothes, shoes and accessories.
Material Objects
https://www.facebook.com/materialobjectsme
Located on Congress Street in Portland, Material Objects deals in women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.
Moody Lords
https://www.facebook.com/p/Moody-Lords-100057360703474/
This vintage clothing and vinyl records shop is on Congress Street in Portland.
Everchanging Seasons Consignment Boutique
https://www.facebook.com/EverchangingSeasonsConsignmentBoutique
This Forest Street shop carries clothing, shoes, accessories and some decorative items.
13th Floor Vinyl
https://www.facebook.com/13thfloorvinyl/
You can find records, posters and other vintage music items at this Congress Street shop.
Cherished Possessions & Pub
https://www.cherishedpossessions.com
On Auburn Street in Portland, this shop carries home furnishings, art and jewelry. They own the adjacent pub if a day of shopping had made you thirsty.
Find
https://www.foundatfind.com/
Clothing and accessories are the focus of this Portland shop.
The Green Hand
https://greenhandbookshop.com
This Congress Street shop boasts that “You can buy [used] books from a real person, not a warehouse.”
Safe Combinations
https://www.safecombinations.org
This Portland shop carries clothing and accessories with a focus on supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Starry Eyes
https://www.facebook.com/starryeyesmaine
Located in Portland, this shop carries new and used children’s clothes and related items.
Stella’s Seller
https://www.facebook.com/p/Stellas-Seller-Consignment-100083484335136
This South Portland shop carries women’s clothing and accessories.
Still a Good Cause
https://www.facebook.com/p/Still-A-Good-Cause-100057848221439
This Portland shop supports transitional housing for single mothers by selling used clothing, shoes, accessories and housewares.
Weekend Vintage
https://www.shopweekendvintage.com
This Portland shop carries clothing, shoes, accessories and other small items.
Points North and West of Portland
Bloom Consignment and Resale Clothing
https://www.facebook.com/bloom.consignments
This Westbrook shop offers clothing, shoes and accessories
Casablanca Comics
https://casablancacomics.com
This store in Windham carries new and used comics.
Cornelia’s Closet
https://www.facebook.com/CorneliasClosetWCC
Located in Westbrook, Cornelia’s offers Clothing, accessories and home goods.
Fashion Gods
https://www.myfashiongods.com
This Falmouth shop offers teen/young adult clothing and accessories
Forget Me Nots
https://forgetmenotsfalmouth.com
Women’s clothes, shoes and accessories. Located in Falmouth.
Haberdashery Resale Clothing
https://www.haberdasheryresale.com/
Women’s clothing and accessories. Shops in both Portland and Freeport.
Lots for Tots
lotsfortosne.com
This Falmouth shop carries kid’s clothing, toys, furniture and gear.