Have you ever thought about how much stuff is being made and sold every day in the U.S.? To further that direction of thought—have you ever wondered how much of that stuff is probably being thrown away long before it should be? Not because it is no longer useable, but simply because the original owner grows bored with it, or gets a replacement just because a newer version came along?
Thankfully, there is a solution to this conundrum; the answer to today’s fast-fashion, profligate consumerism lies in product resale.
Thrift, consignment, and antique shops promote sustainable shopping and keep stuff out of landfills—all while saving you money.
So, if you’re up for mapping out a secondhand sojourn in the Bar Harbor area, I’ve done a lot of the footwork for you below—and none of these spots are more than 30 minutes from Bar Harbor’s northern border.
Map of Bar Harbor Thrift Stores
Score a great deal at any one of these consignment shops.
Serendipity
Operated solely by volunteers, all of Serendipity’s income benefits the Bar Harbor Food Pantry; in 2022 alone, this generous charity served over 700 households in the area.
Every gently-used item in the store has been donated for the cause; goods you’ll find here include clothing and shoes for the whole family, jewelry, accessories, décor, linens, kitchenware, and small appliances.
Note that, since Serendipity relies on volunteers, the hours may change at a moment’s notice; take a peek at their Facebook page for last-minute updates and closings before setting out for your money-saving shopping trip.
Location: 36 Kennebec Pl, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Website: Serendipity
Hulls Cove Tool Barn
When the topic of secondhand or consignment goods comes up, chances are you think of clothing, antiques, or home goods—not hand tools. And yet Hulls Cove Tool Barn—a branch of the Liberty Tool Company family tree—is just that: A shop featuring antique and secondhand tools.
Hulls Cove is perfect for all you woodworkers out there who feel that you can’t get a decent hand tool these days because they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Hand planes, an expansive collection of old Stanley hand tools, and many other collectible brands and models are on offer here, as well as a host of other non-tool, antique curiosities, like crockery, postcards, books, primitives, and more.
And, if you’re looking for power tools, furniture, and more contemporary items, you can always head to their location at 57 Main Street in Liberty, which is an hour and 20 minutes from Bar Harbor.
Location: 17 Breakneck Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Website: Hulls Cove Tool Barn
Two Old Goats Antiques and Artisans
This antique consignment shop is only 5 minutes from Bar Harbor and features over twenty vendor booths, each with its own unique, eclectic offerings.
If you’re a collector of pretty much anything and have some extra time to browse, shopping at Two Old Goats will inevitably reward that time investment. In addition to a plethora of collectibles (art, toys, figurines, signs, and more), you’ll also find a panoply of other vintage goods like books, vinyl records, furniture, and lighting, as well as beautiful, original work by local artists and crafters.
Location: 749 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, ME 04605 (5 minutes)
Website: Two Old Goats Antiques and Artisans
Country Store Antiques, Books, & Wine
Wow—three of my favorite things, all under one roof! This one-of-a-kind store is a veritable warren of rooms that seems to go on forever, each one filled with items even more fascinating than the last.
Located less than 10 minutes from Bar Harbor, Country Store Antiques could easily swallow up hours of your day before you realize it; endless vendor booths loaded with pottery, décor, kitchen items, linens, quilts, artwork, lighting…and that’s not even scraping the surface.
Yard décor, outdoor furniture, and of course, books and wine (the latter from all over the world) are all also on offer here.
Location: 410 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, ME 04605 (8 minutes)
Website: Country Store Antiques, Books, & Wine
Community Closet
Aiming to create a community where nobody needs to choose between putting food on the table or having their family adequately clothed all year, this 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is run by volunteers; a “place where neighbors help neighbors.”
Located 15 minutes from Bar Harbor, the Community Closet started out as a clothing store strictly for those in need, but after donations far outpaced local need, the store opened its doors to the public and now utilizes those earnings to pay the bills and to further help their original customers.
You’ll find clothing for the whole family, household items, baby furniture, toys, and more here—all for a fraction of retail prices.
Location: 25 Eastward Ln suite #12, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (15 minutes)
Website: Community Closet
Goodwill Store
The Ellsworth Goodwill Store, located 15 minutes from Bar Harbor, is one of 29 northern New England stores, each with over 1,000 products added to their stock every single day; each of these stores also has “a mission to teach people the skills to achieve personal stability,” like job training, career preparation, and time management.
Items you’ll encounter at the Goodwill Store include clothing for men, women, and children, small appliances, rugs, linens, books, furniture, bicycles, computer equipment, kitchen items, lamps, televisions, tools, sporting equipment, DVDs, and much, much more.
Location: 15 Downeast Highway, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (15 minutes)
Website: Goodwill Store
2nd to None Thrift and Gift
This boutique resale clothing shop benefits the Hancock County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals—so when you buy here, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also saving pets.
In addition to secondhand clothing for the whole family, 2nd to None also stocks gently loved footwear, jewelry, accessories, and more—and the shop is only 17 minutes from Bar Harbor.
And since this is a resale/consignment shop, it would behoove you to shop often, because the stock is in a constant state of rotation.
Location: 142 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (17 minutes)
Website: 2nd to None Thrift and Gift
Clothes Encounter
As if the name of the store wasn’t cute enough, wait until you get a gander inside Clothes Encounter, which is just 17 minutes away from Bar Harbor. Colorful, bright, and well-organized, this sweet boutique features like-new clothing, dishes, games, books, footwear, jewelry, accessories, upcycled items, and artisan-made gifts as well as a variety of really cool vintage pieces, all for prices you won’t believe.
The staff is welcoming and friendly, and the displays make it easy to shop without feeling as though you’re missing something.
Location: 34 Water St, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (17 minutes)
Website: Clothes Encounter
Sullivan Thrift Shop
Located 25 minutes away from Bar Harbor at the Sorrento-Sullivan Recreation Center, this thrift store splits proceeds between the Pet Pantry Project and the Recreation Center Repairs Project.
All of the items sold here have been donated and include things like clothing, household goods, books, DVDs and VHS tapes, lamps, furniture, toys, games, footwear, jewelry, accessories, and much more than can be listed here.
Keep an eye out, because the staff regularly posts new “intakes” on their social media page; if you see something you want but can’t make it in immediately, simply “claim” it in comments and they’ll hold it for you.
Location: 1776 US-1, Sullivan, ME 04664 (25 minutes)
Website: Sullivan Thrift Shop
Leave A Comment