Renys Department Store DowntownPortland This store is unique in that I believe it has something for everyone. Sure it's in an old building but it's clean inside and everything is neatly arranged. I thought prices were very reasonable on most items. They have Mens, Womens, Kids Cloths, Shoes, Kitchen Accessories, Household Goods, Hardware, Carpets, Medicine, Cleaning Supplies, Maine Made products, Toys,Outdoor Camping Equipment, Souvenirs, Post Cards, Candy and some Food just to name a few. See something for everyone. The people that work there were friendly and courteous to boot.I loved this store and wished we had some back in Florida. I give this store 4 out of 5 stars. Follow Me For More Reviews & Fun read more

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You can't come to Maine and not walk through a Reny's, A Maine Adventure. If you know, you know. So I did my walk around. And looked at the lobster bake supplies, and clothing, and shoes. All great items for camping or for your home at great prices. I had asked if they had a bathroom, and they said no. And later as I'm walking around, I notice all the business say no bathroom on the outside of their door. Not even if you're a customer. A lot of homelessness that has made it difficult for paying customers to use the bathrooms. It's sad, cause I had done hours of walking around Old Port and Portland area, and there's no place to go to the bathroom. Times have changed read more

Renys Department Store - Lobster onesie - Department Stores Near Me - Portland, Maine

We have a Reny's in our town, but we were in Portland and are amusing ourselves this winter by visiting different stores with their Passport adventure. This was our eighth Reny's out of 18, and it had the same general look and feel as many of the other branches. There did seem to be less room to maneuver around in the clothing section than usual due to the racks being so close together. Perhaps we noticed it more because of my wife's mobility issues. And with the store being in Portland, the parking situation seems more dire than the other branches we have been to, but we found a space near the rear entrance on Free Street, so I recommend checking there if you don't mind the occasional street person nearby. read more

This is awesome. Went in to talk to somebody about blocking that sidewalk and for me to get into the store in my wheelchair, I have to be able to pull the door open. No auto button. No one around to help. Humiliating. read more

Renys Department Store - Department Stores Near Me - Portland, Maine

Every time I come to Maine I make it a priority to go to at least one Reny's! I always find great stuff at great deals.

Long Live Reny's! Especially this one. As Portland has become more and more gentrified and NYT writers flock to Portland to live and work remotely from their 750k condos, and rents have skyrocketed for both residents and businesses, it's become hard to find basic items without traveling off the peninsula (or ordering from Amazon). Sure, you can order takeout from award winning restaurants or have your personal shopper pick up your groceries and sundry goods for you from Whole Foods, but what about the rest of us who need a bottle of Ken's salad dressing, some RiceARoni, a stapler, and tacky holiday decor?? You won't find fair trade pine nuts imported from Italy or any fresh produce, but for basic canned, jarred, and boxed items they've got you covered. When you're desperate for a winter hat or an umbrella, a citronella candle for that stoop you call a deck, or need a pack of playing cards to waste time somewhere, Reny's is there for you. Also hugely underrated is their toy/science/board game section. Seriously, take a stroll through for your winter quarantine needs and I think you'll be amazed. Tons of games and fun science project kits, or just some cap guns if you want to run around your apartment playing cowboys and Indians with your roommates. It's a little hit or miss on whether you'll find helpful, friendly service here, but you try working on Congress Street for probably not much over minimum. You can guarantee they put up with a lot during the course of the day because of the location. As someone else mentioned, it's not really a "make a list" kind of place. While it's Portland's last living department store, their own slogan is, "its a Maine adventure", and you're goddamned right it is. Put on that safari hat and go exploring, and support a Maine family-owned business at the same time. read more

God, I love this place! As an out-of-state transplant, Reny's is one of the few things I do understand about Mainers. This place has everything, and the selection is regularly changing. Now, mind you, it's not always the best quality, but it is always cheap. The 3 dollar garden shovel is still holding up ok, but I do have to bend it back into shape pretty regularly. This place is like a time warp, feels like you walked into a store in the early 90's. The range of items sold here is so wonderfully random that you could just walk around for a long while browsing. Also, they have some very cheap pantry items. read more

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this however as a cashier I try to go above and beyond for our customers.. if I see a person with a wheelchair I do my best to get to the door. I do my best to make sure customers new and returning will keep coming back. Our managers are great and if you have any issues don't hesitate to ask anyone if you can speak to them.. I don't like hearing of a bad ex read more

Five stars may appear to be too much for Reny's, but I don't even care. I love it five-stars-much. Growing up in Maine, Reny's is where you go for your back to school shopping, your last minute grocery shopping, your anything shopping. It's kind of hard to explain Reny's to folks that aren't from Maine or haven't been to a Reny's! I love this location because it is like stepping into an item-filled wonderland that you can peruse for hours. Seasonal decorations are in the front of the store on the Congress Street entrance; toys and kids' stuff are on the Free Street entrance. Staff at either entrance will welcome you warmly and happily assist you with anything you need. Or, if they aren't sure how to answer your question, they'll find someone that knows. I come here for candles, silverware, picture frames, exercise clothes, lawn chairs, yarn... and yesterday I came here for a new pair of hiking boots. What a score! I also got a heavily discounted rain jacket that is the best piece of outerwear I own. Everything is high quality, they carry wonderful brands, and things are discounted ridiculously. I always walk out of here pleased with my purchase. Come here to pick through the aisles and buy things you don't need, or come with an idea in mind, and you'll most likely find something that suits you. Chat with the friendly staff and enjoy the ambience of small-town Maine right in the middle of Congress Street. read more

Whatever you need, there's a good chance you can find it at Reny's. They have a little bit of everything: clothing for everyone, footwear, kitchen wares and small appliances, flashlights and basic hardware items, board games, toys for kids and pets, cleaning and storage products, linens and throw rugs, lamps and picture frames, wrapping paper, arts and crafts supplies, Maine sweatshirts and souvenirs, seasonal things like space heaters in the winter and ice chests in the summer. They also have a grocery section with lots of tea, seasonings, condiments and Bob's Red Mill products. Anytime I need anything, I go to Reny's first. They have friendly, helpful staff and low prices. My greatest clothing find was a Boden dress last summer - I think I paid $15 for it. I've also gotten some cute scarves there. They have a lot of closeouts from Gap, Old Navy, Target and American Eagle. I've also seen some clothes from Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. They always have a selection of Carhartt, Woolrich and Columbia brand clothing. And they have discounted Smartwool socks! When I have guests from out of town I usually bring them to Reny's and they always love poking around and finding great deals. read more

Renys Department Store - Love my Reny's mug! - Department Stores Near Me - Portland, Maine

Nice place to browse for good deals on some local items. Try the local chocolate for only 69 cents. We bought some resonably priced items to take back with us on the boat we came in on. Be aware not everything is a good deal...but that's to be expected. read more

Renys Department Store - Department Stores Near Me - Portland, Maine

I love this store on Congress Street. Always find something I like to spend my moolah on. Today I got a new jacket, and some potato sticks, good combo huh? The aisles are narrow but everyone is nice about it. The cashiers are cool depending which one. To use the bathrooms they must be unlocked by a store person. read more

Sorry to hear about Sue's experience as well. We didn't even see security guards when we were there today. Our shopping experience was okay, though we didn't find a whole lot of things we wanted to get. A mish-mash of standard discount store fare, knick knacks, assorted foodstuffs, toys, clothes, and heavy cold weather clothing (read: that's the "Maine adventure" part). Got a couple cans of chowder, some post-Christmas discount holiday theme baking stuff, snacks, and comic books. That I was very excited about -- they've got those sealed grab bags of comic books in the back by the toy section, the ones where you can see the two on the ends of your short stack but not the ones hidden inside. Usually you find three to a pack, these were five, and for two bucks. Good deal, man. read more

I love Reny's. It is my go to for made in Maine gifts for my out of state family. I also like their selection of grocery items as well. They really do have something for everyone. They have very reasonable prices, too. I love the board game section when needing something for family game night. It's also a great place to stop for a last minute gift if you don't want to go out of downtown. I stop on to look around at least once a month. The staff is always friendly and it's never too busy. Also, keep your eye out, because sometimes you can find brand name items for rock bottom prices. read more

I have purchased a huge variety of items from Reny's, including kitchen appliances, clothing and cleaning supplies. This is our go to place to purchase warm outerwear for our 5 month old. We purchased a snow outfit for half the price of a northface outfit. We also bought warm baby snow shoes.. The variety is too notch and prices can't be beat! read more

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Crappy attitude of the front register and men's department. Will not do a return. Snotty and rude. Not even a polite refusal. snotty, snotty and snotty. Do not buy anything you may need to return. I will not shop at the Wells location. No happy holidays at this store. Just give us your money and go. read more

I love this place.. First and foremost for my winter gear esp boots every year. Second I love the AMAZING discounts on clothes. They also sell everything from food, and other groceries, but also hair supplies, pet supplies, and kids stuff... it's like a more classy version of Walmart in some ways. And right downtown walking distance from my house. They are also pet friendly. Not only do they allow you to bring in your dog on leash, but they all have treats that they give the dog at the register. I love any place that does that. read more

I have a love-hate relationship with Renys. I hate it when I need something, I love it when I don't. Do not go in here with a list, because they won't have anything on it. For example, I wanted a box cake mix. They do not have this, but they did have sprouted ezekiel bread mix, and cinnamon coffee cake mix. Its just completely random. Other random things I have bought here: an $11 polyester sleeping bag, plain-brown wrapping paper, a rug with a moose on it, but that time I needed tampons? Forget it. If you just feel like browsing and picking up something you had no idea you needed, Renys is the place for you. If you have something in mind though, Renys will only piss you off because they will have everything else but... read more

Renys on Congress is totally an adventure. I have been here a handful of times (despite my lousy 1 check-in claims) and it can be either hit or miss. There were just so many hits this week that it needed to be reviewed. There's a large section in the back of the store for children's toys -- everything from Lego sets, puzzles, and arts and crafts to baby toys and grocery sets. What surprised me most, though, was the rather large selection of "green" toys from brands like Melissa & Doug. I never would have expected to find such a variety here! And, if you're still on the hunt for studs for your winter boots, head over here before they are gone! They still had a few hanging at the front of the store for only $16. This is one of those places that you expect to find nothing but occasionaly get pleasantly surprised. I don't know why I walked in, but I left with two shirts (The Gap and Land's End) and a pep in my step. read more

I would be hesitant to classify Reny's as a department store; this Maine institution categorically falls somewhere between Marden's salvage and C-rate department stores like Ames (out of business), Zayre (out of business), and K-Mart (still in business?). Back in the day, this store could be - and still is - found in small towns throughout Maine, filling that 'I accidentally wandered in off the street so I might as well shop' niche. No matter how big or small the store, you could always count on the franchise to somehow fit twice as much random merchandise in it as the store should realistically (and legally) hold. Furniture, toys, polo shirts, shoes, COUNTLESS covered bridge-themed jigsaw puzzles - you name it. It could be found at Reny's. These days I feel like Reny's has gone Hollywood on us. You can now actually recognize a few of the brands that they carry, and almost all of their stores are up to current building and fire code regulations. What's up with that? Shopping isn't nearly as fun if there's not an element of danger from a stack of lawn chairs falling on you, or getting trapped in the sketchy basement level after an avalanche of bird feeders blocks your egress. That said, it's still worthwhile to stop in the Portland location. Here are a few observations: - Does Carhartt own stock in Reny's? It seems like half their clothing is made out of the durable jean material. - Their pet section seems to be dominated by bird-related supplies. If you like to keep your migrating birds fed, then this place is paradise for you. - Good selection of pots, pans, and utensils. - Many of their canned and boxed food items look like they fell of the back of a truck. Lots of dings and dents. Last time I was there, they had a manager's special on boxes of Fiddle Faddle that looked like they had (barely) survived a tornado. - My favorite part of this store is the random camping odds and ends on the right wall as you're walking towards the registers. Who knew there were so many different ways to cook grilled cheeses over a campfire? Unfortunately I feel like the presence of Marden's just a few miles away dampens the novelty and allure of Reny's, but it's definitely worth stopping in if you're walking to or from something via Congress Street. read more

I grew up in Maine and this isn't what I call a Maine adventure. I agree with the other yelpers (including my own husband) that I'm sorry to hear about that horrible profiling experience she had. The sad truth is that Maine is about 97% white. I grew up in Portland and most people (MOST) are not that way. The deals at Reny's are not worth writing home about in my opinion. I'd suggest visiting a store that sells local made goods. I also hope Sue(?) wasn't a tourist. I'd encourage her to go other places and she'd see that most Mainers are much more friendly, inviting, and pleasant to deal with. read more

The associates were friendly and helped me the item that I needed. I should have spent more time there. They have everything.

For a tactical shopper not looking to spend lots of time wandering endless stores, this Renys was a great find. I'd needed to get my godchildren a few small gifts, and this store seemed to have enough variety that anyone could get in & out with what they needed in a hurry. Customer service was great, and the first person I went up to cheerfully led me back to the children's section and even recommended colouring books that a 2-year old might enjoy. On the way out, I saw the perfect boogie board that a 5-year old could crash through the gentle surf of Portland on, and there we go. Mission accomplished. Parking's not easy, with the only spots being on the street, so bring a friend and park where you're not supposed to. You'll be in & out quickly. read more

Great Reny's, same great merchandise, but just not the cute store as some of the other stores are. It is in downtown Portland in an old LL Bean outlet. It is all open space, one huge room with all the merchandise. There are some aisles. Great stuff, you never know what you will find from clothes to food to pharmacy type items. Great employees, always friendly and nice. Very clean store, everything is picked up, nothing lying on the floors. Most of the Reny's have all the same merchandise at once, but you never know from one to another. I always stop in to see what they have now. read more

i'm really sorry to hear about the other reviewer's negative experience with security at Reny's. i have not gone through anything similar here, so Reny's gets a solid rating from me. Reny's calls itself a Maine adventure, and that's pretty accurate. you never know what you'll find here, but there are almost always bargains available. and bargain hunters be on the lookout! sometimes the same item is priced differently at the front of the store than at the back (i'm thinking of some fancy chocolates that were 2.99 in one spot and 3.99 in another), so take a good look around before ringing out! read more

I used to go to both Renys, Portland and Saco. i was in one in portland try to exchange 3 sweaters to fit my size that my wife got me the day before, A staff harassed and profiled me , by followers me around the store and point fight on me show to other staff. i though i was being judgement.because i am brown man from Africa, i moved to side where she couldn't see me. but other cashier was watching me. she ran towards where i was. And she screamed at me" dont leave with pay it" i was standing and waiting for her. and the other cashier was watching me. after she find me smiling at her. because i was not paranoid. i was wright. she was embarrasse. but i told her she was doing a good job. she walked way. Moment later i was sound with two polices. they ID ed me. i told her my story. still they served with no trespassing. before i left i asked to talk to supervisor. He was a good guy, i think his name was ( Steven or Justin). he took the time to listen and he avoided the no trespassing paperwork. that's the story i remember now when i hear or see Renys bad or anything with Renys. read more

This store is so packed with items yet limited size and variety. We came in for certain colors or size and they literally didn't have anything. Limited backpacks, no wallets...I asked the first lady who didn't want to help me (busy socializing with co workers) she just said it's whatever you see. I'm like wtf??? She followed us around like we about to steal something...overpriced!!!!! Rude. Unhelpful. read more

I like Renys. It's a good place to get cheap winter gear. I've got my hat and gloves from Renys and they work enough to say that I'd recommend them to anyone. read more

Other locations may be okay, but beware visiting THIS store if your skin is not lily white! My family and I spent an hour in the store, followed by security guards (which we thought was strange, but dismissed as slightly paranoid). After purchasing several items, we were escorted out of the store by armed police, and told that the manager did not want us to return to the store because he "thought we may have been planning to shoplift"!! The manager would not even grant us the courtesy of explaining why he would think such a heinous and outrageous thing. And, if he did, why wait until after we made our purchase to make his accusation??! Needless to say, we immediately returned our purchased items - and had to argue with the cashier to give us a return receipt!! Most traumatic and unpleasant shopping experience my family and I have ever had. Still hoping for a public apology or, at least, an explanation from this sad excuse for a manager. So not okay. read more

I've not been to this Reny's but they put one in Belfast & at the start it was wonderful.The prices were good,we could actually not have to get money raped.Since there R very few stores in this city now they have gone crazy with their prices! Everything is for tourist .Pants $150 come on ,that little community can't afford those prices.They R supposed to B reject clothes & they R outrageous! I stopped going in!I say Boo & these stores wonder why we will travel the extra 50 miles for A wal mart! read more

I was never a big fan of Reny's until they came to Portland, and even then they had a rough first year, but they have managed to clean up their act lately. My sense is that Reny's management anticipated more problems with theft than actually occurred, hence the overbearing security guards (whom I haven't seen in quite some time, and I suspect are gone) and locked bathrooms (which I'm sure also has to do with not wanting to be the restroom for the entire Arts District). Customer service has also improved, although I feel it's still not at the level it could be. With their growing pains out of the way, Reny's is an asset to residents of the peninsula. They are the only department store in Portland's downtown core, and I'm delighted to be able to do more of my shopping on foot, without having to drive out of the city. Friends who don't have cars tell me that it's even more helpful, since it saves the hassle of a bus ride. Also improved is their pricing - it can still be a bit uneven (small appliances tend to be quite a bit pricier than if purchased at the Targets and Walmarts of the world) but on the whole I generally find that I save money by shopping here. However, I'm fairly brand flexible and am happy to buy whatever laundry soap or suncreen happens to be on sale that week. I've also noticed consistently good pricing on home goods (sheets, towels, etc) and kitchenware (other than small appliances). Seasonal is also a strong point. They've stepped up their game quite a bit with keeping consistent goods on the floor, vs the constantly rotating stock of many of their other locations. With that said, this is a fairly small store, so selection is limited. As well, pricing can still occasionally be uneven. Hours are also limited (9-7 M-S, 10-5 Su), making the store less convenient than it could be. In short, Reny's is (mostly) an asset to Portland. If they continue the steady improvement they have managed thus far, I think they will do well. read more

I was surprised to find Renys in the middle of downtown Portland. It seemed out of place with the vinyl record stores and quirky independent book stores. It is a great place for a tourist to pick up some Maine memorabilia. Lots of folksy things like bird houses, braided rugs, and I Love Maine shirts. I ended up buying some postcards. Prices were a little more than I'd pay as a tourist if I needed to grab gifts for family. The bathrooms were locked with a sign to ask an associate to open it, but there were none in the general area to help. In fact, I saw several chatting and standing around towards the front and it took a few minutes to get one to come over and ring up my meager postcard purchase. Interesting place, but lacks in customer service and doesn't sell anything you can't find elsewhere for cheaper. read more

It's like a smorgasbord of stuff, really. Footwear, clothing, home goods, souvenirs...a good thing. We stopped here as we were docked in Portland for the day and needed a sweater, as it was kinda chillier than we expected. I found one which looked good, felt good, and a great price. read more

Not only is Renys a fun place to shop, but today I just found out that they are PET FRIENDLY! Now I can bring one of my furkids to get an ice cream and then go shopping! read more

Great place to find good deals on clothes, food, household items, etc. however their prices have definitely gone up over the past few years and their deals aren't as impressive as they once were! read more

I have shopped Renys all my life. I am now retired. Recently, Renys has been carrying hats and boots (some jackets) with real animal fur trim. This is NOT acceptable. Fur means a trap, and fur means animals suffer horribly. Some of the fur...from products made in China, may be cat or dog fur ! For this reason, I am giving my once beloved Renys a very low score...until they stop carrying clothing with fur trim. I mentioned this to one of the store managers last year. Nothing came of it....and that is wrong. read more

Reny's is still a family owned business. John and Bob are very hard working for all of the deals and great merchandise found in their stores. I enjoy shopping in the Reny's in Portland and Damariscotta (I'm from BBH) and I always find really great things for very fair prices. Go Reny's! Great stores! Great merchandise! Great prices! read more

Reny's is like LL Bean without the pretense. Regular people can actually afford to shop here and there's this certain kitsch factor probably because a lot of their goods from mustards to ordnaments is Maine-centric. The hiking and camping gear is reasonably priced and this would definitely be my "go to" outdoors store if I was from the area. I ended up snagging a few hiking socks and this ridiculous moose ornament in yellow waders holding a lobster. Yeah... read more

Only giving a two star because the place can be useful in a pinch. Go out of our way to shop at the Bath location to shop more local. With the bridge work going on this is more difficult than ever. On New Year Eve I walked into the store to be told seconds later that they were closed. I counted 9 others being ushered out and 6 more try to get in while we were leaving. I'm not sure who decides such things or why the time to close is so important but making a lot of customers mad is never a god idea. Needless to say we went and got the stuff we needed at a better location and will in the future. read more

What a great store. First time in 69 years that I saw more clothing for men than for women. My husband has a great selection of warm winter clothing thanks to this great store! read more