Have Yourself a Very Local Holiday
Enjoy this special post from Biddeford native, Emma Bouthillette. She is a marketer, yoga teacher, and author of A Brief History of Biddeford. Coming of age as the city’s Main Street was mostly vacant, she has fully embraced the downtown renaissance. If you don’t see her supporting small businesses, you’ll probably find her on the beach with her corgi. Read on!
When you shop small, you give big! Biddeford has a bevy of businesses to support this holiday season with plenty of ideas to check off your gifting list. Below you will find six categories – retail, food, beverage, wellness and beauty, pets, and arts and culture – to shop from and help sustain our bustling downtown.
It’s recommended to check with each business for business hours and follow pandemic-related safety protocols so everyone can have a happy, healthy holiday.
Retail
While it’s certain you’ll find something for just about anyone downtown, you can always support these businesses by purchasing gift certificates, sharing their social media posts, and referring others to shop downtown.
Awesome Hobby Shoppe: Comic collectors converge at the Awesome Hobby Shoppe where you can find the perfect comic, game, or collectible item to gift this year.
Catalyst for Change Wear: Support a business and charitable cause when you shop at Catalyst for Change. You’ll find something for everyone who wants to rep Maine.
DAD’s Smokeshop: If you have a cigar aficionado on your list, but know nothing about cigars, pop into DAD’s Smokeshop. The welcoming staff will help you pick out just the right thing.
Dupuis Hardware: If you need help decking the halls for the holiday, check out Dupuis Hardware for tools and supplies. You also might find a gift for your favorite DIY-er to tuck under the tree.
Eastcraeft: New clothes, who dis? Well it’s Eastcraeft of course! Sharing space with Gloss Hair Parlor, Eastcraeft is offering up current fashion trends for ladies with a curated collection of clothing and accessories.
Hills & Trails: For the outdoor lover, hike over to Hills & Trails new storefront where you can find a uniquely designed outdoor lifestyle collection and handpicked goods including a coffee collaboration with Time & Tide.
Hyperlite: Hyperlite brought textile production back to Biddeford’s mills where their team produces stripped down, high performance outdoors gear with a minimalist design that suits any avid hiker or outdoors person’s needs.
J&J Antiques: J&J Antiques is a treasure hunt on Main Street with a selection of vintage furniture, collectibles, glassware, art, books, tools and gifts. Browse the shelves and you just might find the perfect gift!
Loving Anvil: Coco and Gil Corral have turned their 1880s farmhouse into an artist haven where they respectively create unique jewelry and paintings. While they don’t have a brick and mortar store downtown, they do offer online shopping and custom orders.
Marrick: Marrick is another talented jeweler in town, crafting stunning collections and creating luxurious small batch skincare for men and women. If you don’t see something just right, contact her to create a custom design.
Mill Comics & Games: Located in Pepperell Mill Campus, Mill Comics & Games is another great spot to find gifts for the comics and games lover in your life. If there’s something special you’re looking for, let them know! They might just be able to find it for you.
New Morning: Sure, you might classify New Morning as a natural grocer, but they have an array of items perfect for gifting. Browse their selection of teas, chocolates, beauty care, beer, wine, and more for gifting inspiration!
Part & Parcel: Part & Parcel is a women-owned and operated specialty market and kitchen with plenty of gift ideas and supplies for holiday feasts. Find goodies for your friends or take a break from all your shopping and enjoy a yummy sandwich.
Rabelais: Rabelais serves up fine books about food and drink with a selection of rare or out-of-print cookbooks. You’re sure to find the perfect gift for your favorite foodie among their inventory!
Stem & Vine: It’s not the holidays without a stunning wreath or table centerpiece to enjoy! Stem & Vine is a whimsical floral artist taking orders for just that. Check out her work and treat yourself to bouquets year-round!
Suger: Suger is the flagship boutique for designer clothing line, Angelrox. Stocked with cozy clothing and carefully selected accessories and gifts from local and global artisans, you’ll find something for anyone on your list here.
The Tarbox Cottage: Offering old and new custom hand-painted furniture and a mixture of new and vintage home goods, The Tarbox Cottage is a lovely place to find a gift for someone’s home, or your own.
Trillium: Trillium is a beautiful shop with handpicked goods for the home, heart, and soul. With a wide array of products from pottery and dishware to clothing and décor, there’s plenty to spark gift-giving joy.
Vieux: Vieux (or “old” in French) is a treasure trove of antiques, collectables, and vintage items. Check in regularly for new items and you may just find the perfect piece to gift or keep!
White Door Home Store: White Door Home Store is the mecca of repurpose, repaint, and reinvent! Check out all their reimagined furniture and home décor to adorn your home (or someone else’s home).
Wooven: Wooven offers fresh, modern designs from handwoven and recycled textiles sourced in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Celebrate the craftsmanship from Southeast Asia and your avid traveler by finding them a unique gift from halfway around the world.
Food
If you enjoy Biddeford’s many food establishments, spread the joy to others with gift cards that support these businesses long after the holidays.
Bangkok Kitchen: Just a mile from the heart of downtown is a new take-out Thai restaurant that’s been getting rave reviews. Bangkok Kitchen has authentic, fresh cuisine, which will be a nice break after you’ve carved your way through turkey leftovers.
Beyond Nutrition: Looking for a healthy solution? Check out Beyond Nutrition’s shakes and teas. These beverages are made to order and taste like dessert, but nutritious.
Big Tree Grocery: Brought to you by the kitchens behind Eventide Oyster Co., The Honey Paw, Hugo’s, and Big Tree Catering, Big Tree Grocery is a unique way to fill your fridge. Check out their selections of prepared meals, meal kits, pantry items, and more for pick up on Fridays.
Biscuits & Company: Biscuits & Company was born from Heart of Biddeford’s Main Street Challenge and has become an anchor to the businesses on Alfred Street. Warm up with a hearty breakfast or bring goodies home for the holidays.
Coletti’s Pizza Factory: It’s easy to miss Coletti’s as you head south down Route 1, but you don’t want to miss this pizza. A bite of their pizza will transport you to Italy, which is nice, since we’re not traveling overseas any time soon.
Cowbell Burger Bar: With a large bar and extensive burger menu, Cowbell Burger Bar serves up something for everyone. Take a break from shopping and build a burger creation of your own or order off the menu.
Dizzy Birds: Dizzy Birds offers some down-home cooking. Freshly roasted birds and an array of sides makes for a quick meal or check out their holiday menu offerings if you don’t want to chef it up!
Elda: Although Elda is temporary closed, we’ll all rejoice when it reopens in Pepperell Mill Campus at 14 Main Street. This unique restaurant offers creative four-course meals or a bar menu with excellent wine pairings and innovative cocktails.
George’s Sandwich Shop: A Biddeford classic, George’s Sandwich Shop serves up no-nonsense Maine Italians. Bring cash and get yourself a ham, loaded with a Coke and some Humpty Dumpty chips.
Happy Dragon: At the corner of Main and Alfred streets sits Happy Dragon for all your Chinese food cravings. The pu-pu platter for two is the best way to dive in.
Jewel of India: Find yourself some traditional Indian cuisine at the Jewel of India. Pick your curry with choice and a side of naan.
Jonesy’s: Jonesy’s is the traditional café every Main Street needs. Drop in for breakfast and get to know the regulars or swing by later for lunch.
LaundrYup Café: Most people are bored waiting for the wash and dry cycles at the local laundromat to finish, but not at LaundrYup. Get your sheets clean and enjoy yummy food while you wait.
Los Tapatios: Los Tapatios serves up all the Mexican dishes of your dreams with chips and salsa on the side. Treat yourself to a margarita and maybe some guacamole too!
Louis Pizza: Louis Pizza recently expanded into a larger space off Franklin Street. Get yourself some great pizza deals with sides of French fries and onion rings to enjoy on a lazy night in.
Magnus on Water: Magnus on Water transformed the corner of Main and Water streets with their opening in early 2020 with the addition of safely distanced outdoor dining this past summer. Their menu is ever changing and their cocktails knock it out of the park.
Mulligans: If you want a meal, with an appetizer and beverage, for under $20 including tip, Mulligans is the place to go. Most items on the pub menu are under $5 and served in hearty portions.
Night Moves Bread: If you’re a bread lover, get yourself to Night Moves Bread on a Saturday morning. Definitely consider placing a pre-order to ensure you can grab exactly what you want. Hint: you’ll want a brownie too.
Palace Diner: Tucked away from Main Street, Palace Diner has become a huge attraction downtown. With recognition in Bon Appetit and other publications, their unique breakfast and lunch items are worth waiting in line for. 2020 tip: when the pandemic hit, the crew pivoted to fulfill to-go orders and switched from cash only to card only.
Papous Pita: Another new food spot getting rave reviews from day one is Papous Pita. Serving up authentic Greek cuisine, you’ll want to give their pita sandwiches a try and don’t forget a piece of baklava for dessert!
Pepperell Provisions: The newly opened Pepperell Provisions welcomes you as you enter Building 18 in the Pepperell Mill Campus. The cafe offers up freshly cooked foods, some farmers market goods, and a small retail selection too.
Pizza by Alex: A staple to Biddeford’s downtown, Pizza by Alex is the original personal pan. Order of the menu or add your own toppings, just remember to say “cooked light in the old oven” and you’ll be golden!
Portland Pie: The Maine pizza chain Portland Pie was among the first businesses to occupy the mill at 40 Main Street as that building was transformed. Offering their classic menu in regular or gluten-free crust makes this a great spot for the modern pizza lover.
Que Huong: Looking for something different? The authentic Vietnamese cuisine offered at Que Huong is the place to go and get yourself some Pho.
Reilly’s Bakery: Marking 110 years in business, Reilly’s Bakery is the place to go for all your specialty cakes, pastries, and donuts made fresh daily. Order ahead for the holidays or any special occasions. Buy it baked, where it’s baked, and you can’t go wrong!
Sublime Tacos: Inspired by California street food, Sublime Tacos is making every day “taco Tuesday.” Get yourself a taco flight and enjoy the fresh eats.
Sweetcream: Sweetcream is not your average scoop shop. With small batch, creative flavors made with locally sourced goods, this ice cream is like none other. Order it by the pint or enjoy it on a cone.
Thai ME: Thai ME was an early anchor to the cluster of restaurants on Main Street. Enjoy one of their many classic Thai dishes and don’t forget the crab Rangoon!
The Hamburger Stand: Open seasonally, The Hamburger Stand offers good, honest with nods to local tradition. Enjoy the French-Canadian favorite poutine with a steamed red dog, and a frappe made with Gifford’s ice cream for dessert.
Wonder Bar: Wonder Bar is an Irish-American pub with a long history in the city of Biddeford. Known for their St. Patrick’s Day breakfast celebrations, you can get corned beef and cabbage any time of the year.
Yeto’s: Yeto’s is “where southern charm marries Italian comfort.” It’s hard to go wrong with their sandwiches or pasta dishes, and thanks to the pandemic, cocktails to-go!
Beverages
In addition to serving up great drinks, the following spots also have food options and, of course, you can spread the love with gift cards!
Banded Brewing: Biddeford got its first brewery when Banded Brewing arrived on scene in 2013. In addition to their standard offerings, Banded gets creative with their sour Charms & Hexes and seasonal brews like the winter Jolly Woodsman.
Blaze Brewing: Blaze Brewing opened up their fourth location this year off Pearl Street with unique views of the Saco River falls. In addition to their unqiue beers, they’re serving up handcrafted, woodfired pizza and an array of barbecue.
Elements: Elements came on the scene in 2013 after winning the first Main Street Challenge hosted by Heart of Biddeford. This coffee shop, bookstore, and beer and wine bar helped spark the “Biddaissance.” Browse the books while you wait for your order and you’re guaranteed to find something you love.
Lorne: Lorne is a funky wine bar brightening up lower Main Street (literally…check out that cool façade mural)! It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re wine savvy. The owners will help you find exactly what you’ll love.
Maine Coast Roasters: If you take Main Street out toward the high school you’ll discover another coffee roaster in Biddeford. Maine Coast Roast is serving up amazing blends, including CBD-infused coffee.
Round Turn Distilling: Round Turn Distilling is Biddeford’s first distillery. They quickly made a name for themselves with their flagship Bimini gin and their cocktails really push you past the old gin and tonic standby.
Stone Fort Distillery: Also on Pearl Street, find some vodka or whisky at Stone Fort Distillery. Crafted in handmade stills with only the highest quality ingredients, their spirits are smooth and easy to sip.
The Martini Bar: Whether shaken or stirred, get your martini fix on at The Martini Bar. Their unique cocktail recipes change seasonally because pumpkin spice isn’t just for lattes.
Time & Tide: Spread your caffeine addiction from upper Main Street to lower Main Street where you’ll find Time & Tide. Home of the incredibly addictive pistachio cream latte, they foster relationships with coffee bean farmers to bring only the best to Maine.
Wellness and Beauty
After this year, we all need a little self-care time whether it’s on a massage table or yoga mat. These businesses serve up plenty of opportunity to unwind.
Conscious Touch: This year has everybody needing some time out for self care. Find your zen during a luxurious massage with the talented massage therapists at Conscious Touch.
Flourish: Flourish is a welcoming space for visual, performing, and healing arts. Enjoy everything from open mic nights and drumming circles to reiki and meditation.
Forever Fit: Find a unqiue offering of fitness classes or personal training at Forever Fit. Mindfully stretch and tone through Pilates and barre classes while enjoying a supportive, encouraging environment.
Gloss Hair Parlor: As they say at Gloss, Biddeford is for lovers. This hair parlor arrived on scene this year specializing in low-toxic color services and non-toxic styling and haircare for everyone.
Hark House: Hark House offers massage therapy for those who incorporate massage as an essential, preventative, and restorative medicine. While you’re sure to relax during your session, the goal is long-term physical health.
Impact Fitness: Find your strength at Impact Fitness. Equipped with Matrix strength training equipment, Hammer Strength, three platforms, rogue bumper plates, prowlers, sleds, and tires with 75 feet of artificial turf to play on, this is not your average gym.
Metta Movement: Metta means positive energy and loving kindness, which is what you’ll find in the offerings of this studio. Enjoy yoga, meditation, and functional movement practices either in a group or private setting.
North Star Chiropractic: Find your alignment at North Start Chiropractic. Dr. Rebecca uses state-of-the-art scanning technology and a combination of manual and instrumental adjustments to keep your body functioning at its optimum potential.
Nyce Nails: Unwind a bit as you enjoy a pedicure or manicure at Nyce Nails and get the trendiest styling for the holidays.
Roger’s Barber Shop: Every downtown needs an old-time barbershop and that’s what you’ll find at Roger’s. When Roger Chretien retired in 2019, Nate Foran bought the business, upholding a 100-year-old tradition of having a barbershop in that storefront.
Samudra: Founded across the bridge in Saco, Samudra (which in Sanskrit means the gathering together of waters) extended its reach across the river opening a spacious studio in January 2020. Enjoy traditional and heated vinyasa classes, Spa yoga, yin yoga, and meditation with an array of unique workshops.
Sellam Circus School: If you ever wanted to run off and join the circus, the classes and workshops offered by Sellam Circus School may be just for you. All ages and experiences can learn all aspects of circus from performance skills, to circus history forums, to tent maintenance, and mechanics.
Tulu Salon: Enjoy the view of the bustling downtown from the 12-foot tall windows that line Tulu Salon. Born out of the need for a high-end salon and spa south of Portland, Tulu is the place for all the pampering.
Wonder Nails: Long-established downtown, Wonder Nails has been serving up perfect pedicures and manicures for everyday and special occasions. Enjoy the friendly, welcoming staff while you treat yourself.
Woodgrain Barbers: Woodgrain Barbers is a trendy barbershop downtown serving up fresh cuts for all ages and hair types. Kick back for a cut and enjoy the views of Main Street.
Pets
Don’t forget your favorite furry friends for the holidays! They love unwrapping presents too.
GB’s Pet Care: If you have a pet, you’re likely going to need petcare at some point. Who better to call than Jasmine because she’ll treat your fur babies like her own and send you picture updates to prove it.
Growling Gourmet: Hold the Milkbone – Biddeford’s got its own dog biscuits to dish out. Get freshly baked treats for man’s best friend from Growling Gourmet with their commercial barkery tucked away in Pepperell Mill Campus.
Spike Grooming: While you treat yourself to a spa day, treat your dog too. Spike Grooming will give your dog the best bath with a fresh bandana for the trip home and a glamor shot too.
Super Dogs & Cats: While cats and dogs may fight, they won’t argue over you shopping at Super Dogs & Cats. Find the best food, treats, and toys for your fur babies and if you have any pet nutritional questions, the friendly staff is there to help.
Arts & Culture
If you have a lover of culture and arts on your gifting list, consider donating to one of Biddeford’s non-profits in their name, purchasing art on display, or a workshop to tap into their creativity.
Biddeford Mills Museum: The looming mills downtown Biddeford have a storied history, which is cherished and shared by the Biddeford Mills Museum. Learn about how the mills came to be, stories of mill workers, and more through exhibits and tours.
City Theater: The historic City Theater is home to stunning plays and musicals for all ages. Though the holiday festivities of 2020 are somewhat on hold, you can enjoy a virtual “Home for the Holidays” concert from the comfort of your couch December 18 to December 27, 2020.
Common Roots Studio: Common Roots Studio brings a collaborative art space to downtown. Enjoy art from a variety of artist in a variety of mediums, helping you see new perspectives of the nature that surrounds us.
Engine: The fuel that feeds Biddeford’s art scene is none other than Engine. This nonprofit founded in 2010 has merged science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through numerous youth and adult workshops, as well as gallery openings and engaging storytelling events.
Joseph Webster Glass: While Joseph Webster Glass offers a stunning selection of glassware for sale, the artist also hosts workshops and glass blowing demonstration that adds depth to the art scene in Biddeford.
McArthur Library: Put down the mobile devices and enjoy all there is to discover at McArthur Library. A true gem in our city, the public library offers up daily activities, endless books, various programs, and even equipment rental.
Mill Studio Arts: Mill Studio Arts brings art out of the classroom and the artist studio. Foster creativity by signing your child up for a workshop or booking private art lessons for yourself.
