Recently, I met someone whose goal was to visit every Reny department store location in Maine. And after a year of traveling, she finally did it.
Funny, I feel similarly about getting to every Marden’s store in Maine. However, maybe I need to make it my goal to go to all of the Renys stores in the state
Renys Wells, Maine. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
Renys Department Store: A Maine Adventure
For starters Renys Department Store does not have an apostrophe in its name. It is not Reny’s–possessive. It is just Renys, although it really should be since the founder’s name was Reny. The founder’s family still runs the stores.
Anyway, the tagline is A Maine Adventure because you never know what you’ll find when you visit one of the 17 stores in Maine.
While Renys doesn’t advertise itself as a salvage or surplus store, you’ll definitely find brand-name overstocks on the racks there.
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
For example, when my husband and I visited the Renys location in Wells, we found clothing from the following brands:
LL Bean
Lands End
Gap
American Eagle
In addition, I spotted personal care products and medicine that were the Walmart Brand (Equate) and CVS Brand. So, clearly both of these retailers are sending their overstocks to stores like Renys.
CVS and Walmart brands at Renys. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
Renys department store advertises that it sells well-known brands, new with tags. And it does.
This includes Carthartt, Columbia, Timberland and other outdoors brands.
Some of the Carhartt products I found were scrubs. I had no idea that Carhartt made cute scrubs like the ones I saw.
Carhartt scrubs. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
The brand names here aren’t limited to clothing. I found Tate’s cookies (the chocolate chip version is the best) and Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal, flour and other cooking ingredients.
Over in the appliance aisle, there were small electric appliances from Cuisinart, General Electric, Black and Decker and more.
Plus, if you’re looking for toys for the little ones, Renys stocks these brands–or at least the Wells store had them during my visit:
Lego
Matchbox
Melissa and Doug
Hot Wheels
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
Renys shoes and boots
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
During that same visit to the Wells store, I spotted Smartwool socks, New Balance shoes, original Crocs, Merrell women’s sandals and much more. The selection of shoes and boots was impressive.
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
However, if you’re looking for outlet prices on these name-brand shoes and boots, I would recommend heading to the outlet stores in Kittery or Freeport instead. At $85 and $100+ these are not bargain prices.
What else can you buy at Renys
When we visited the Renys in Wells, the store was packed with everything you needed for a day at the beach or the pool. This makes sense since Wells is a Seacoast town.
There were pool noodles, sand toys, beach chairs and the like.
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
However, Renys also has plenty of housewares. For example, if you were planning a lobster bake, you could get everything you needed at Renys–except for the lobsters. Here are tips on how to cook a lobster.
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
I saw enameled lobster pots plus all of the utensils for serving and eating lobster. I’m talking lobster crackers, forks for picking out the meat and cute lobster-themed dishes and napkins.
Also, because Renys is such a Maine institution, you can buy Renys branded items, too.
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
How about this canvas bag and Maine-shaped cutting board? This would be a great housewarming or hostess gift for a Mainer.
What else you need to know about shopping at Renys
Here are the details about the Renys layaway program:
“Renys offers a 60 day layaway option. With a minimum of 10% down to put the layaway on hold with payments of minimum of 10% of the balance every two weeks until you pick it up.”
Renys layaway. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
Also, Renys accepts manufacturers coupons. However, there is no doubling or tripling. You’ll get the face value of the coupon only.
Finally, here’s what you need to know about the Renys return and refund policy. One, you have to make returns within 30 days of your purchase.
Two, the item must be in its original condition–unused, unworn, etc.
Three, you cannot return perishable items or personal care products. Also, no returns on gift cards.
Finally, you’ll receive a refund to your original payment form.
Does Renys have an online store
Yes, you can shop online at Renys website. In fact, if you’re looking for the Renys flier, you’ll find that on the Renys website as well.
Unlike many stores that let you shop online, Renys does not offer a drive-up or curbside option for online purchases. They’ll ship it to you.
What is the Renys Early Bird sale
It appears that the Renys Early Bird sale is an annual, pre-Black Friday event at Renys stores. So, in early November, people on the Renys email list get an invite to visit the stores before normal hours.
From what I could see on the Renys Facebook page, those early bird shopping hours are 6 AM to 9 AM on one special day in November. Then, everything in the store is 20% off or some similar discount. So if you’re wondering about Renys’ 20 percent off sale, I think the Early Bird event is it.
If you want to get a headstart on holiday shopping at Renys, I would definitely sign up for Renys emails. I know I am.
Renys locations in Maine
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
The very first Renys was in Damariscotta, Maine. Now there are 17 Renys department store locations across Maine.
Scroll down for a comprehensive list of towns where they’re located, the address and Renys hours in each location. I believe each of these Renys stores is open seven days a week.
Finally, while not every single Renys is in Southern Maine, I’ve included them all in case you want to make them part of your day trip elsewhere in the state. In fact, heading to Renys is a great activity on a rainy day in Maine.
However, of the locations in Southern Maine, you’ll find Renys locations in these six places:
Bridgton
Portland
Saco
Topsham
Wells
Windham
Gardiner, Maine
You’ll find the Renys in Gardiner, Maine, at 185 Water Street, Gardiner. Here are the hours for the Gardiner store:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Wells, Maine
Renys department store in Wells, Maine. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.
The Renys in Wells, Maine, is in the same shopping center off Route 1 as Hannaford supermarket and a Dollar Tree. The exact address is 107 Wells Plaza.
Here are the hours for the Wells store:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Belfast, Maine
The Renys in Belfast is actually in Renys Plaza. The street address is 1D Belmont Avenue, Belfast.
Here are the hours for the Belfast store:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Portland, Maine
The Renys in Portland, Maine, is smack dab in downtown on Congress Street. It’s near the Cross Insurance Arena and many Portland hotels, including these Peloton hotels in Portland, Maine.
Here are the hours for the Portland store:
Monday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Ellsworth, Maine
You’ll find the Renys store here in the Ellsworth Shopping Center at 175 High Street, Ellsworth.
The Ellsworth store hours are as follows:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saco, Maine
The Renys in Saco is in the same shopping center as the UPS Store and Shaws. It’s at 4 Scamman Street, Saco.
Here are the Saco store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Topsham, Maine
You’ll find the Renys in Topsham at 65 Topsham Fair Mall Road. The Target in Topsham, Maine, is also on Topsham Fair Mall Road and is only about two minutes away.
Here are the Renys, Topsham store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Bath, Maine
The Renys in Bath is at 86 Front Street. Here are the store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Windham, Maine
The Renys in Windham is a must-stop for those living or staying in the Sebago Lake area. You’ll find the store at the Windham Mall at 795 Roosevelt Trail, also known as Route 302.
One, there is the Damariscotta Main Store at 116 Main Street. I believe this is the same address as the original store, which opened in 1949.
And, two, there is the Renys Underground store in Damariscotta. It is at 163 Main Street.
Based on the name, I thought this was Renys clearance store. Nope, it’s just a second location that happens to have two stories–possibly one of them is underground or a basement level? I’ll have to double check on that.
Both Renys Damariscotta locations have identical hours. They are:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Gardiner, Maine
The Renys in Gardiner is at 185 Water Street. Its store hours are:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Bridgton, Maine
My research tells me that the Renys Department Store in Bridgton is the biggest Renys store in Maine. The ones I’ve been to in Wells and Windham were pretty big so I’ve got to check out Bridgton, too.
Anyway, the address for Renys Bridgton is 151 Main Street. Here are the store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Pittsfield, Maine
The Renys in Pittsfield, Maine, is located at 506 Somerset Avenue. Here are the store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Dexter, Maine
Did you know that the Dexter Shoe Company was founded in Dexter, Maine? It’s also the town where you’ll find yet another Renys department store location.
The store address is 33 Main Street and the store hours are:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Madison, Maine
The Renys store address here is 65 Main Street, Madison. Here are the store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Camden, Maine
The Renys in Camden, Maine, is located at 83 Elm Street. Here are the store hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Farmington, Maine
If you’re in Farmington to go skiing, you can stop in at the Renys at 200 Broadway. The store hours are as follows:
