Best Gift Shops in Rockland

Source: The Archipelago Facebook
The Archipelago

Gorgeous views across Penobscot Bay of the nearly mile-long Rockland breakwater (and Vinalhaven Island beyond) are breathtaking backdrops to your road trip Instagram selfies, and plenty of traveler amenities line Main Street for your leisure and convenience.

Restaurants, museums, lodging—and shopping options, which is what we’re here to explore today.

Map of Rockland Gift Shops

Here is a helpful map of all of the Rockland gift shops listed in this article.

Archipelago

“Supporting the creative economy since 2000,” Archipelago is always a must-do for me when in Rockland.

This is the retail arm of the Island Institute, a group that strives to empower working waterfronts and communities, as well as boost resilience in the face of climate change.

Archipelago is filled to the gills with the work of Maine makers whose work showcases the raw and enduring beauty of the Maine coast. Home goods, wall art, jewelry, linens, stationery, apparel, bath and body—there are enough products here to cross everyone off your gift list…and get yourself a little prize, too.

Location: 386 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Archipelago

Puffin’s Nest

This affordable, family-run spot has been in business for nearly three decades, supplying bargain-hunting tourists with quality, Maine-centric gifts to bring home to one and all.

State- and nautically-themed clothing, dishes, stickers, sassy glassware, ornaments, and stationery are on offer here, as well as branded collections like Willow Tree and Hatley.

The pajamas department is particularly extensive, where you’ll find cozy little sets printed with everything from black Labradors and camouflaged moose to bumblebees and puffins (of course).

Location: 464 Main St #2, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Puffin’s Nest

Little Buoy Coastal Gifts

With a name like “Little Buoy Coastal Gifts,” you need not wonder if you’ll find Maine-related gift items, here.

Beautiful, hand-painted (by local artists) items for house and home, like barware, ornaments, serving pieces, and even light switch plates. Other handmade, seaside-motif crafts include potholders, masks, baby onesies, sea glass jewelry, aprons, and satchels, just to name a fraction.

Location: 166 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Little Buoy Coastal Gifts

Trillium Soaps, Ltd.

Made only in small batches—and never tested on animals—Trillium’s vegan soap and bath goods are crafted with saponified olive, palm, and coconut oils, each offering its own intrinsic quality to the finished product.

Scented with all-natural plant ingredients like lemongrass, cinnamon, lavender, rose, calendula, and ginger, these items are perfect gifts for someone who knows the importance of using all-natural products—especially when purchased from a small business.

Location: 216 S Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Trillium Soaps, Ltd.

Maine Seaside Treasures

This is the type of shop I walk into to purchase a gift for someone else…and end up leaving with at least one thing for me, as well.

This refreshing, nautical boutique offers a careful curation of delightful home décor—a unique collection of both elegant and whimsical items.

Whether your gift recipient’s taste includes hand-painted, wooden, pipe-smoking sailor doorstops, or if they’d prefer a hand-carved, life-sized rendering of a trio of sea terns adorning their home, it’s all here at Maine Seaside Treasures.

Location: 14 Main St, Camden, ME 04843
Website: Maine Seaside Treasures

Ollie & David’s

This magical little shop is like a scene out of one of Tolkien’s books. Bespoke, handmade items using repurposed, cast-off materials will take your breath away; many utilize vintage pieces as a “base” and then the artist takes over and makes it into something beautiful.

Offering predominantly items for the garden (fountains, birdhouses, feeders, statuary), Ollie & David’s also has a selection of home goods, such as clocks, sculptures, candles, lighting, and artwork.

Location: 385 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Ollie & David’s

The Grasshopper Shop

The Grasshopper Shop is one of several family-run shops in Maine, all under the same catchy moniker.

The Rockland location has been in business since 1997, providing the savvy shopper with “things that comfort, charm, and surprise.”

Clothing, jewelry, décor, home and body…with far too many upscale and unique products to list here (most of which are made right in Maine and the U.S.A.), you can rest easy in your gift search knowing you’ll find exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for at The Grasshopper Shop.

Location: 400 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: The Grasshopper Shop

The Black Parrot

The Black Parrot is where to go when the gift in question is for someone who tends to be a bit…discerning.

You’ll find high-end clothing, shoes, accessories, home goods and décor, stationery, bath & body, and kitchenware here, with many recognizable, upscale brands (Tivoli, Redecker, Bella Jones, and Hestra are just a few).

And as the product lines are always changing, be sure to “shop here, and shop here often,” as the shopkeepers like to say.

Location: 328 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: The Black Parrot

Antiques Etcetera

This antiques consignment center is the perfect shop if you have no idea what to get someone—just make sure you have plenty of time to browse.

With so many vendors’ wares on display, you don’t want to miss a single item—because you never know which booth might be holding the answer to your quest.

And remember, you can always use your imagination and repurpose a vintage item to suit anyone’s needs.

See that rusty, wrought-iron boudoir chair over there? Spray-paint it and call it a plant-holder.

How about that stack of random tin ceiling tiles? Frame them and call them art. See how easy it is?

Location: 607 Main Street, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Antiques Etcetera

Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars

Perfect for the chef on your gift list, Fiore stocks far more than their extensive catalog of amazing oils and vinegars.

You’ll find plenty of related accessories (spouts, sprayers, caddies) alongside gourmet and specialty foods, serving ware, cookbooks, and curated gift sets of compatible oils and vinegars.

Location: 503 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars

Sea Bags

A true Maine favorite, Sea Bags are created from recovered sails and sail fabric, making them the ideal gift for any boaters in your life…and pretty much anyone else, too.

These bags are attractive and durable—and the sails used to create them are as locally sourced as you can get.

Choose one of Sea Bags’ popular collections, or have one created just for you.

And if you’re not sure a tote of any iteration is your giftee’s cup of tea, there are also plenty of other options, like lounge chairs, pillows, bar tools, organizers, sunglasses, and keychains.

Location: 371 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Sea Bags

hello hello books

For books—and all manner of bookish gifts—you have to check out this cute little spot. Tucked in back of Rock City Café, hello hello books is an abundant little nook filled with books, yes—but you’ll also find a thoughtful curation of stationery, greeting cards, card games, and puzzles.

The staff is friendly and passionate about what they do; if you have no idea what to get that certain someone, just ask for some expert guidance.

Location: 316 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: hello hello books

Bixby & Co.

Not sure what size moose sweatshirt to bring back to your pet sitter? Well, step away from the tourist trap gear, because chocolate is almost always the right size for everyone.

Bixby & Co.—a women-owned business—creates all of their award-winning confections in a restored, 125-year-old former ice manufacturing plant, right on the working waterfront in Rockland.

This shop is a destination unto itself—and not only will you undoubtedly walk out with a gift that will make anyone happy, you’ll also surely leave with some chocolatey delights for you to enjoy.

Location: 1 Sea St Pl, Rockland, ME 04841
Website: Bixby & Co.