Stop and Shop

from Belfast The Bay And Beyond 2022

by Belfast The Bay And Beyond Magazine

Plenty to Eat

FROM ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDCRAFTED GIFTS TO EVERYDAY NECESSITIES, WALDO COUNTY RETAILERS HAVE YOU COVERED.

During the two decades that Laura Brown spent summers in Northport, Arts in the Park in Belfast was a favorite annual tradition.

“I couldn’t believe the skill and the quality of the handmade work being done by artists from all over Maine,” she says. “And I knew that this was the tip of the iceberg.”

Brown moved to Belfast for good five years ago, and after buying a historic 1867 brick building in downtown Searsport last year, she opened Trove, a shop to showcase local artisans’ work.

“There’s so much local talent here, I just wanted to create a venue that really celebrates their work,” says Brown.

Brown opened Trove housewares last summer, and the exposed-brick interior offers a perfect rustic backdrop for her wide array of goods, which range from ceramics made in Portland, to bee balm and organic nettles tea and body scrubs made from ingredients grown nearby in Waldo County.

She loves helping customers find just the right item, and even offers Facetime shopping sessions for those who need or want to shop from home.

With an eye for the one-of-a-kind, and a customer-first ethos, Brown fits right into Waldo County’s eclectic retail scene, which includes a fresh mix of newcomers as well as long-timers who have thrived here for decades serving locals’ needs for special occasions as well as everyday essentials.

The Lupine Cottage (7 Old Searsport Ave., Belfast; 207-338-4300; lupinecottage.net), established in 2004, carries the unique handiwork of more than 50 Maine-based makers, which have been hand-picked through a highly selective vetting process. The two-story cottage is open year-round, and offers classes in knitting, crocheting, and sewing.

Yo Mamma’s (96 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-4884; yomammas.com), which features everything from throw rugs to artisan stationery to baby clothes, also opened in 2004. The Purple Baboon (31 Front St., Belfast; 207-338-6505), a clothing and souvenir shop, has been in operation for 21 years. Coyote Moon (54 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-5659; coyotemoonmaine.com) has been a local destination since 1990. Longtime customer Lisa Fagin bought the shop from founder Michelle Walker last year.

“Each business here is unique and has found its own niche, and residents and visitors have come to appreciate that very much,” Fagin says. She and Walker have been collaborating to ensure that the spirit of Coyote Moon remains, even as Fagin expands the selection. “We want to make each person who walks into the store feel special,” Fagin says.

For those looking to freshen up their living spaces, Waldo County has a wide variety of home-décor stores from which to choose. Epoch (69 Main St., Belfast; 508-838-1130) specializes in vintage wares, from furniture, kitchen goods, and vinyl records, to maps and sunglasses. Farmhouse-style furniture and Maine-made quilts are the focus at Patchwork Plus (156 Belfast Augusta Rd. West, Searsmont; 207-342-5016; patchworkplusme.com). The Red Cottage (258 Main St., Lincolnville; 207-763-4297) has a broad selection of textiles, linens, and bedding, along with plants and garden accessories. Robin’s Nest Consignment (169 Searsport Ave., Belfast; 207-218-1167; robins-nestconsignment.com) carries items for inside and outside, from antiques to patio furniture and garden décor.

One of the biggest perks for locals — and one of the things that makes Belfast’s retail scene unique — is how many everyday necessities can be found in an easy walk downtown.

Colburn Shoe Store (79 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-1934, colburnshoe.com), which opened in 1832, carries everything from hiking boots to gym shoes to Dansko clogs. Left Bank Books (109 Church St., Belfast; 207-338-9009, leftbankbookshop.com) has more than 7,000 books ranging from cookbooks to New York Times bestsellers. At Out on a Whimsey Toys (88 Main St. Belfast; 207-338-3911, outonawhimsey. com), kids are welcome to play with the stuffed animals or build a train set during their visit. Men’s suit boutiques are a rare find these days, but at Man on Main (103 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-6260, manonmain.com) owner Dee Bielenberg offers a personalized shopping experience for suits, ties, rental tuxedos, and duds for any dressy occasion. Its sister shop, City Drawers (105 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-9980), specializes in undergarments for women of all ages and stages, with custom bra fittings, as well as swimwear, sleepwear, and shapewear.

All the shop owners offer a sense of consistency for both locals and visitors, and they serve as guiding lights for newer shops like Trove. Brown says she has been welcomed into the thriving retail community and treasures the sense of camaraderie between store owners. Through the Belfast Area Chamber, she was able to connect with a mentor from SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, who helped her develop a business plan. All the shop owners encourage their customers to check out other stores in the area, and offer guidance and mentorship to one another. That collective spirit is just another aspect of what makes Belfast and Waldo County so special.

"Every business here has a mission," says Walker, founder of Coyote Moon. "And when the shops carry out that mission, it strengthens the whole community."