Portland, Maine Bookstores You Need to Visit Now

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Portland, Maine has received a lot of attention for its acclaimed food and brewery scene in recent years. While that’s all great and dandy (I love to eat!), it tends to overshadow other great businesses in town.

What about its thriving literary scene? Yes, Portland, Maine bookstores are a wonderful tribute to the challenging independent bookstore industry.

There are 13 bookstores in the Portland metro area selling every kind of new, used, and comic book you could imagine. Check out all of their websites, locations, and features below!

Don’t miss some of our most recent Portland, Maine travel blog posts:
– 10 Sandy Beaches Near Portland, Maine
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– 46 Fun Things To Do In Portland, Maine
– 13 Best Bars in Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine Bookstores – New Books

1. Longfellow Books

Longfellow features frequent author events, a well-curated used book section, and an entire wall dedicated to their best sellers. It’s cool to be able to see what is hot at the moment! They also have an incredible section of magazines and stationery to browse.

My favorite part of this bookstore though is that they house cats from the humane society to raise awareness and promote pet adoptions. How cool is that?! If you’re interested in adopting a cat, stop by to see who they’re currently hosting. This is definitely my favorite new bookstore in Portland.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Monday 10 am – 5 pm
Tuesday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday 9 am – 5 pm,
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

Website: https://www.longfellowbooks.com/

Address: 1 Monument Square, Portland Maine 04101

2. Sherman’s

Go visit the oldest bookstore in the state of Maine – Sherman’s opened in 1886! They have a large bargain books section, adorable Maine souvenirs, and an impressive selection of Maine books and books written by Maine authors.

Also, if you live in Maine, or visit often, sign up for their rewards/loyalty program! They have 9 locations around the state where you can earn points to get discounts.

Current hours (as of 11/22/22): Every day 9 am – 6 pm

Website: https://www.shermans.com/

Address: 49 Exchange Street, Portland Maine 04101

3. Print: A Bookstore

Print hosts a variety of interesting events, which includes author talks and signings, kids’ storytime, book launches, and even book club discussions. Many of these events are not only available in person but can be attended virtually online as well, which is pretty cool.

They carry a lot of trending and thought-provoking books – perfect for those interested in social justice, history, or politics.

I hate when bookstores are crammed and you’re having to move out of the way of someone every 30 seconds – Print is the exact opposite. The store is a comfortable, spacy, and lovely spot to enjoy an afternoon browsing for books.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Tuesday through Thursday 11 am – 5 pm
Friday and Saturday 11 am – 7 pm

Website: https://www.printbookstore.com/

Address: 273 Congress Street, Portland Maine 04101

4. Letterpress Books

Although it’s located outside of downtown, Letterpress is worth the trip. They have an incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff who always have recommendations for any kind of book you’re looking for.

They have a consignment program for anyone who’s published a book with an independent publisher – what a great way to promote those smaller, unknown authors! Some other notable features include that they welcome shoppers with dogs, host events with local authors, and sell art from local artists.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Monday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

Website: https://www.letterpress-books.com/

Address: 91 Auburn Street Suite K, Portland Maine 04103

5. Quill Books and Beverage

Do not miss out on this truly unique bookstore that doubles as a cafe, lounge, and bar! Snack on one of their delicious sandwiches, grab a crafted coffee drink or settle in with a glass of wine or beer.

They have fun events geared toward young adults and professionals, such as board game night, weekly writing workshops, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathons.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22): temporarily closed – check their Facebook page for updates on when they plan to reopen after renovations

Website: https://www.quillbooksandbeverage.com/ 

Address: 1 Westbrook Common Unit #5, Westbrook Maine 04092

6. Nonesuch Books

Nonesuch has some awesome offers for patrons looking to save a few bucks on their next book purchase. Seniors get 15% off every Tuesday, book clubs that order 4 or more of the same book get a 20% discount, they offer free gift wrapping of up to three items in any purchase, and they buy gently used adult fiction paperbacks and will give you 20% of the cover price in in-store credit.

PLUS they love to support educators and will offer 20% off any books slated to be used in a classroom – how cool! This is a great spot to grab a new book and head to Bug Light Park to read on a sunny summer day.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Monday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

Website: https://www.nonesuchbooks.com/

Address: 50 Market Street Mill Creek Shopping Center, South Portland Maine 04106

7. Royal River Books

Royal River Books features an extensive children’s section, amazing products by local artists and crafts(wo)men, and other cool cards and sustainable gifts. Don’t forget to join their loyalty program.

If you’re in need of a place to stay, the owner also has a seaside cottage available for rent!

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22): Daily 10 am – 5 pm

Website: https://royalriverbooks.com/

Address: 355 Main Street, Yarmouth Village Maine 04096

Portland, Maine Bookstores – Used Books

1. The Green Hand

This is a full, yet manageably organized used bookstore with a wonderful and knowledgeable staff. They have decently priced used books in all genres, plus an excellent playlist to listen to while you browse.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Tuesday through Saturday 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenhandbooks/

Address: 661 Congress Street, Portland Maine 04101

2. Yes Books

Yes Books has a lot of books (dare I say too many?). As many used bookstores are, this place is packed to the brim, so be prepared to do some digging if you have something specific you’re looking for.

There are definitely some old and rare books in there though, so treasures certainly await whoever has the patience to find them.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Monday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 6 pm

Yes Books has no official website or Facebook page.

Address: 589 Congress Street, Portland Maine 04101

3. Bull Moose

Bull Moose is much more than just a bookstore. They do sell books, but they also sell CDs, DVDs, video games, toys, board games, and more – they carry all media types in both new and used conditions. Each store has its own variety, so there’s always something new and cool to check out.

They have 8 locations in Maine and 3 locations in New Hampshire! If you think you might be a repeat customer at any of the stores, it is worth signing up for their loyalty program. You earn 1 point for every $15 spent and you can redeem your points to get 50% off purchases.

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22): Daily 10 am – 9 pm

2 locations in the Portland metro area:
456 Payne Road, Scarborough Maine 04074
219 Waterman Drive, South Portland 04106

Website: https://www.bullmoose.com/

Portland, Maine Bookstores – Comic Books

I’m going to be completely honest here – I do not read comics and have not been to either of these stores. However, I know a lot of people love comics, so I felt I definitely needed to include them on this list.

I’ve taken some info from online, but please check out their websites or call them on your own to find out more info!

1. Casablanca Comics

Casablanca has a huge selection of comic books, an impressive buy-back program, and a weekly online list of books being shipped in that week.

Current hours (as of 11/22/22): check website for each location

Website: https://casablancacomics.com/

2 locations in the Portland metro area:
151 Middle Street, Portland Maine 04101
778 Roosevelt Trail, Windham Maine 04062

2. Coast City Comics

This store features comics, cards, board games, horror, puzzles, shirts, pins, patches, vinyl, toys, stickers, magnets, and more! They have frequent events, and an in-depth website, so don’t miss out!

Current Hours (as of 11/22/22):
Monday through Saturday 11 am – 8 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm

Website: https://coastcitycomics.com/

Address: 634 Congress Street, Portland Maine 04101