Sherman’s Book & Stationery Shop

Pleasantly surprised with the merchadise in this store.
At first I didn’t plan to stop at Sherman’s since I wasn’t in the mood for looking at books and stationary items. Luckily my wife told us we should look for some gifts for friends and when we entered my perception of shop quickly changed.
This shop is not only a stationary store, but it is three shops in one. They also have a small department store and gift shop area. Overall, decent shop worth a visit.

If I’m in Bar Harbor, I always make a little trip to Sherman’s. I like to check the shelves and see what they have for books, but they also have lots of other cool stuff there, too, like Uglydolls and lobstah footie pajamas. You just never know what you’ll find here. I guess that’s another excuse to make a trip to Bar Harbor — after I get in day of hiking, that is.

This is a very cute store housed in a cool building. In a small town for tourists, they offer a pretty one-​stop shop for souvenirs– everything from postcards, magnets and shot glasses to stationary, trinkets, toys, and books. They apparently also ship, if you don’t want to/can’t lug your purchase home.
If you’re like me and hate souvenir shops, this is the place to go. It’s awesome that they have a entire bookstore too.
They are also very conveniently located a few blocks from the water and near an endless amount of restaurants.

Good selection of books! Each section is really well stocked, lots to choose from. So far my favorite bookstore of my New England trip.

Books, cards, stationary, and trinkets to browse/​purchase in this cool old building complete with squeaky wooden floors in the heart of Bar Harbor. Lots of books to choose from, and if you want to go home with a souvenir, you can probably get that here too. Live out of state and want to mail your order home? No problem.
Cool shop. Be sure to stop by.

This is one of those stores you need to visit if you’re in a large group with a wide variety of interests. From a bookstore to a candy shop to a toy store to a «knick knacks for mom and grandma» to a card store, I’m not exactly sure what this store isn’t (except a bar, it is definitely not a bar). We came in looking for a puzzle (we like to frame the New Yorkers) and can you believe they had FIVE options of just New Yorker puzzles?! My MIL was looking for an ornament for her xmas tree and found plenty to admire and my FIL was distracted by the pottery items. Where was my husband? admiring the many bookshelves. I promise you that anyone can find something in this store for themselves or for someone else. If nothing else, it’s a great place to keep busy if you need to dodge the rain…

Everyone knows
Sherman
At least
in Bar Harbor
Sherman’s was built in 1886, which makes it the oldest bookstore in Maine. It’s changed a bit over the decades but the basic premise of selling good stuff at a good price remains the same.
At one time the store did just about everything, including printing a newspaper, handing out local gossip and at least from one person I talked to, sold moonshine. It since has given up the newspaper and moonshine but still manages to pack a lot of stuff in it’s small rooms. It doesn’t have a huge selection of books, don’t expect Barnes & Noble but instead it emphasizes local material on the geography and history of Maine. Local Maine authors of fiction are also displayed.
As well as books, lots of unique and humorous greeting cards, calenders of Maine, and toys and games about Maine can be found. The ubiquitous plastic lobster infest the store. A lobster theme permeates, but then that is part of shopping in Maine. It’s a strange ambiance of touristy stuff mixed in with some very cool, indigenous and unique items.
One of the best things about the store are the people that work there. Always friendly and smiling. You can ask any stupid question and they will take the time to answer in a polite and useful way. If the moonshine is gone, at least the tradition of a disseminating information is still alive at Sherman’s. I asked one young lady directions to a place on the other side of town and she not only gave me several possible ways of getting there, but even drew me a map on a lobster napkin. She then laughed and said when I was done with the map I could use it with lunch. Customer service from Maine at it’s finest.