Growing up in Maine means a very specific way of life. From learning to drive your parents car when you were barely old enough to reach the pedals, to watching the same local commercials over and over again, these memories from childhood are etched into our brains. And, in some cases, the memories are still fresh because the places are still around. Hooray for Maine staying power! Here are a few places you might recognize if you spent your days spending your allowance in Maine!
- LaVerdiere’s Drug Store
Now we’ve got things like CVS and Walgreens, but they’ll probably never have the arcades that existed in LaVerdiere’s.
- Bud’s Shop N’ Save
budsshopandsave.com Remember when we didn’t have Hannaford’s? We used to go to Shop N’ Save, which actually does still exist here and there. Some stores even carry Hannaford’s products.
- Ames Store
Maine Memes / Facebook These everything stores were dotted all over the country, and when they went out of business in 2002 many of the storefronts stuck around.
- RSVP Discount Beverage
Flickr/RSVP This is another one that’s still around, but there’s something really vintage feeling about it. Maybe it’s the old commercials that we used to see over and over again.
- Reny’s
smilla4 / Flickr We apologize in advance for placing the Reny’s jingle in your head for the rest of the day. But, really, are you complaining? It’s a Maine classic and we’re just thankful this place is still around. It has been and always will be a “Maine adventure!”
…and just for fun here’s what the Portland Reny’s storefront looked like back in the day.
Corey Templeton / Flickr
- The Maine Mall
annatorresbr / TripAdvisor The Maine Mall might not have anything particularly unique to set it apart from malls across the country, there was always something exciting about making the trip here before the school year started. It’s still around, but we like to remember it from back in the day! This was before you could just hop online and order something to be delivered the next day.
- The Dream Machine Arcade
Dream Machine Arcade / Facebook While not a store in the traditional sense, it certainly was a place we spent money! Did anyone else have awesome birthday parties here? I have visions of kids running around in pure bliss. There was one in the Maine Mall and in Bangor.
- Uncle Henry’s
Uncle Henry’s / Facebook This one isn’t exactly a store, but it’s an important part of Maine history nonetheless. While this guide is available in more than just Maine, it really feels like it belongs to us!
To continue your trip down memory lane, check out these old Maine commercials. Do you remember any?
budsshopandsave.com
Remember when we didn’t have Hannaford’s? We used to go to Shop N’ Save, which actually does still exist here and there. Some stores even carry Hannaford’s products.
Maine Memes / Facebook
These everything stores were dotted all over the country, and when they went out of business in 2002 many of the storefronts stuck around.
Flickr/RSVP
This is another one that’s still around, but there’s something really vintage feeling about it. Maybe it’s the old commercials that we used to see over and over again.
smilla4 / Flickr
We apologize in advance for placing the Reny’s jingle in your head for the rest of the day. But, really, are you complaining? It’s a Maine classic and we’re just thankful this place is still around. It has been and always will be a “Maine adventure!”
Corey Templeton / Flickr
annatorresbr / TripAdvisor
The Maine Mall might not have anything particularly unique to set it apart from malls across the country, there was always something exciting about making the trip here before the school year started. It’s still around, but we like to remember it from back in the day! This was before you could just hop online and order something to be delivered the next day.
Dream Machine Arcade / Facebook
While not a store in the traditional sense, it certainly was a place we spent money! Did anyone else have awesome birthday parties here? I have visions of kids running around in pure bliss. There was one in the Maine Mall and in Bangor.
Uncle Henry’s / Facebook
This one isn’t exactly a store, but it’s an important part of Maine history nonetheless. While this guide is available in more than just Maine, it really feels like it belongs to us!
For more Maine pride, check out these 12 unwritten rules all Mainers learn to live by!
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