So Much in Store

Coyote Moon

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Out on a Whimsey

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Left Bank Books

Benjamin Williamson

Colburn Shoe Store

Benjamin Williamson

Maine Outdoor Sportsman

Benjamin Williamson

Vegetables are sold at self-serve farm stands all over in Maine, but only in Belfast can you buy shoes on the honor system. For the past year, Colburn Shoe Store has invited customers to pay what they can from a bargain-basement rack. It started as a last-ditch effort to move unsold shoes, and quickly became something more meaningful: a reflection of the community's resourcefulness and commitment to the common good.

"The response was amazing, from both people in need and people making donations to put brand-new shoes on the rack," says Colby Horne, the fifth-generation owner of the 189-year-old shoe store. “I felt safe doing this here: There's a lot of honesty."

Honesty and consistency of service are the keys to Colburn Shoe Store's longevity, as well as the vibrancy of Waldo County's many unique shops. The vast majority of them are owner operated, so whether you're getting a bike tune-up at CG Bikes, buying a stuffed giraffe at Out on a Whimsey toy store, picking up Maine-made housewares at The Purple Baboon, or getting a fly fishing rod and reel at Maine Outdoor Sportsman, you know that the person helping you wants you to come back.

The personal touch and the one-of-a-kind offerings extend well beyond Belfast's walkable downtown.

In East Belfast on Route 1, Bennett's Gems & Jewelry specializes in rare and colorful tourmaline, and has a vast selection of precious minerals and crystals, plus jewelry and gifts made with otherworldly-looking stones. Lupine Cottage, a co-op of more than 65 artisans, offers everything from Maine-made quilts to sea glass pendants. At Maine Alpaca Experience in Northport and Unity, you can find hats, blankets, mittens, and more that have been hand made from ultra-soft, baby-alpaca yarn. In the summer, you can tour the farm in Unity too, to meet the sweet animals. At Patchwork Plus in Searsmont, you'll find items from more than 100 Maine crafters, including farmhouse-style furniture, kids' crafting kits, and quilts.

Having such a critial mass of unique local shops, plus a supportive vibe, is part of what encouraged Chris Gardner of CG Bikes and Nathaniel Baer of Downshift Coffee to open in Belfast last year and helped sustain them even as they grappled with the pandemic. "Given the ciscumstances, we've done pretty well," Gardner says, "thanks to the friendly, supportive spirit of this community."

CG Bikes and Downshift Coffee