The Kennebec Explorer 2020 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 40

Shopping
If you can’t find it here, you don’t really need it.
Small shops: they’ve got it. The hunt for antique and vintage. It’s all at the Mall.
Keep your eyes peeled as you travel
along our byways and through our
towns. You’ll find small, local shops
in the most surprising places, gladly
welcoming visitors inside. Whether
it’s a bike repair, handmade earrings,
a custom fishing fly, or a coffee mug,
these artisans have their fingers on
your pulse. They are there if you look
hard enough. Snugged in between a
barber and a realtor, you might find
new fashions, collectibles, and even
things that go zip and zoom for the kids.
Sometimes it may be the only option as
well. That gas station in town may also
make the best sandwich around and
have a raincoat, a kayak paddle, and
a first aid kit. We should probably call
them “necessity stores,” because if you
need it, they’ll surely have it. Central Maine offers great antiquing;
pickers come here and go home happy.
Country auctions held on a somewhat
regular basis are filled with all kinds
of rural Maine finds and other “great
stuff,” while the antique malls overflow
with mountains of oddities or treasure,
depending on which way you lean on
the subject. Casual shoppers should
head to Hallowell’s densely lined Water
Street for shops like Riley’s Re-Find
Designs and The Hallowell Antiques
Mall. In Waterville, there is the massive
Hathaway Mill Antiques. Those looking
to dig a little should follow the roads out
of the bigger towns, especially Route
201, to find spots like Jellison’s Traders
in Augusta, Poulin’s, and the Fairfield
Antiques Mall a mile or so off of
the interstate in Fairfield. For some time now, Augusta has been
home to some of the best shopping in
Maine, and because it’s outdoors, it’s
way less crowded than Portland. So
if you need something, or even if you
want to browse, visit The Marketplace
at Augusta. It’s close to the interstate,
and while nearly all of the mega-retailers
are represented—Barnes & Noble, Home
Depot, Walmart, and Old Navy—there
are many unexpected choices, too,
with brands like ULTA, Pier One, and
Eddie Bauer Outlet. You can also shop
for bargains at Kohl’s or grab a bite
with friends and family at Red Robin,
Chipotle, or Elevation Burger. Whether
it is shopping for something you forgot
at home, or maybe you just want to
treat yourself while on vacation, you
are bound to find what you need.
Downtown Skowhegan
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Jellison’s Traders, Augusta
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