If you love bookstores that feel like a warm hug with a side of coastal charm, Sherman's is exactly…read morethat girl. I popped in during a fall trip to Portland, and within two steps, I understood why this place stays busy. It's cozy, it's nostalgic, and it has that "you're definitely leaving with something you didn't plan to buy" -- and I absolutely did. The book selection is diverse. They do an incredible job curating local authors, Maine-themed reads, and those charming "I'll never find this anywhere else" gems. It's the kind of shop where you browse slowly because every shelf has a little surprise. The gifts + stationery section is dangerous (in the best way). Cute cards, puzzles, journals, mugs... basically an stress-free way to knock out gift shopping. Staff was friendly without hovering. Asked for a recommendation and got a great one -- points awarded. Yes, the aisles are a little tight. Yes, you might bump into people. But honestly? That's part of the cozy bookstore ecosystem. If you want Barnes & Noble spacing... this isn't that. And that's why it works. If you're in downtown Portland, Sherman's is an absolute must-stop. Whether you buy a book, a puzzle, or just soak up the cozy, indie-bookstore magic -- you'll leave happier than you walked in.

I hadn't planned to stop by this cute bookshop, but it was a real treat browsing for gifts and…read moreseeing the latest in fiction and what books are recommended or popular. The selection is definitely heavy on fiction and more contemporary/popular names. Everything was very organized, and the staff were friendly. It wasn't too crowded on a weekday morning when I went, so this wasn't an issue, but the aisles are narrow so it's more of a one-way street.

A variety of vintage goods, I find a treasure at each visit. Jewelry, records ceramics, linens and…read morewall art abound. Some prices seem high.

Lovely selection of vintage goods, vinyl, and a little section of cozy handmade baby clothes and…read moregoods. The wonderful owner invited my kid to pet her sweet little dog, chatted us up, recommended some good local things to do, and just generally made us feel like welcomed friends rather than out-of-towners dropping in for the holidays. 10/10 can't wait to go back here and shop some more for nieces and nephews and some vintage for myself the next time we are in the Portland area.

Love Ferdinand. Always surprised by something new. I especially love the birthday animals. Diane…read moreis wonderful!

Cutest store. Obsessed with my new hand dyed pillow!! There are a bunch of local gifts and knick…read moreknacks that make for the perfect gift. Will definitely have to visit when I'm back in Portland again!

Cute place! I stopped in only because I happen to see it when I was stopping at a bakery nearby…read more I walked in and was met with two options, left or right. I went to the right and found honey for your health, honey from around the area, and different products that either had bees on it or had honey in it. I found this super neat and I spent some time looking at the different items before settling on some honey from the area. Someone did come and say hello to me while I was shopping around. But then promptly went to help someone else that had walked in. Once I made my selections I went to wait to check out, lots to look at. It seems they have some bee keeping items and also have beekeeping classes. So, all around they support bees and I love that. There was a comment made in the shop by one of the workers that made another customer feel less included, but I don't think it was meant to be offensive. But I did happen to notice it and felt well, there's some validity to what was said. Nonetheless, great place to get honey and very lovely staff.

Love, love, love this place! Having a bee keeper in the family I have learned alot about the health…read morebenefits bees and their hives can give us. Honey is sold in small and large quantities but nothing gigantic. Honey is from all over the country and many local hive producers sell their products here. What better way to support small business in your area! My favorite is the "rubie red" honey, you hold it up to the light and it's a deep red and has a fantastic flavor..yum! The store sells everything honey and bee: honey, wax, propolis, mead, candies, gift sets, honey decantors, aprons and linens, and jewlery. This store also has classes for those interested in learning this art form. In the store they have a live hive you can look at from behind glass, facsinating! People may not like the high prices ($15-30 depending on the quantity and location honey is from) but it's to support our local artisans and the product is MUCH BETTER then any honey you will find in the grocery store. It's raw and unfiltered so all the healing properties are intact. I am a regular there, going weekly during the winter months to help keep my immune system strong.

Don't be thrown by the location - this is a neighborhood gem. We went in right before closing with…read moretwo energetic kids. The staff could not have been more kind or helpful. They took time to get down to the physical level of my four year old, asking him what he liked and helped give us recommendations for his first chapter books. The diverse books and Maine authors featured made me really happy and although the shop is small, there was quite a wide variety. They also made it very easy to order anything they didn't have in stock. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Great place and very helpful service. The woman with whom I dealt even mailed the gift certificate…read moreI bought!

Unique to the max! Best card shop ever and it doesn't stop there tons of other interesting and…read moreawesome stuff.

This card store is so cool, I was amazed too see all the hand crafted cards. So many different…read moretypes for so many different occasions. They also have gift bags, souvenirs, hats, apparels, magnets, stickers, mugs and few more types of products, but not as much variety as the cards. The prices are comparable to other nearby gift shops. Lots of people were in the store when we were there. The lady at the register was friendly, helping out different customers. It's a good store for anyone looking for unique custom handmade card.

Workers lowkey rude and like rolled their eyes at me when I asked for some help and just pointed at…read moreme I don't know if they had a bad day but oh my

It's called The Paper Store, but they don't sell stationery -- and that was my reason for visiting,…read morebecause I assumed a store called The Paper Store would have a full range of paper products. Seems like a pretty glaring omission. Nice selection of Hallmark greeting cards, at least. And tons of cute things that aren't paper or paper-related.

Professional, friendly, and fast! Fred is knowledgable with a good design sense. My rehearsal…read moredinner invitations needed to be mailed within the week of me walking in his new store, and it was absolutely painless. I loved the way they turned out, thanks to Fred's suggestions about color, print, and paper. Highly recommend.

From the owner: Ecru Invitations is Portlands best source for affordable, quality custom Wedding Invitations. We…read morespecialize in Custom Wedding and life event invitations with instore design and digital printing. We also offer Letterpress, Foil, Engraving and Thermography printing process through Local and National Brands. If you bought an Etsy design or design your own invitation, send us your file and we will print it on luxury, thick paper that you get to choose. Want to add a pocket, layer or envelope liner, no problem, our in-house finishing services allows you to make any invitation truly custom and one of a kind or your special event.

Went over to try to discuss selling merchandise in their store…read moreI have sold my wares in two other local bookstores with positive results These folks were haughty and dismissive I actually left feeling embarrassed for the way I was treated

Oh, I am already really missing the thoughtfully-run Book Review. Sherman's seems to have no sense…read moreof layout or of what a customer might want. It just feels stuffed indiscriminately with whatever can be fit in. No flow; barely any cards - which often brighten me in and I almost always bought more than I came in for. It honestly feels less like a relaxing bookstore and more like jam-packed novelty store right now. I hope it improves in the new space. Right now, it feels like the plot has been lost, if you will.