Shopping

No store captures Belfast’s [1] funky side better than the Belfast Co-op Store (123 High St., Belfast, 208/338-2532, http://belfast.coop [2], 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. daily), a natural-food co-op and community bulletin board that’s been dispensing food and healthcare products for 30 years.

Handknit Irish sweaters, Scottish kilt pins, and fine English china are among the items for sale at the Shamrock, Thistle & Rose (94 Main St., Belfast, 207/338-1864, www.shamrockthistlerose.com [3], 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun. Jul.–Dec.; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Jan.–Nov.), a shop specializing in goods from the British Isles.

Billing itself as the oldest shoe store in the country, Colburn’s Shoe Store (79 Main St., Belfast, 207/338-1934, http://colburnshoe.com [4], 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun.) was founded in 1832, and originally sold milk, spices, and rum in addition to footwear. Now the mammoth shop sells all the top name brands, as well as heavily discounted shoes in the basement.

If you can’t find it at Mainely Pottery (Rte. 1, Belfast, 207/338-1108, www.mainelypottery.com [5], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily May–Oct.; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Nov.–Dec.), then it isn’t thrown and fired in Maine [6]. Twenty-five different potters sell a range of stoneware, porcelain, earthenware, and raku.

Part store, part gallery, Bluejacket Ship Crafters (160 E. Main St./Rte. 1, Searsport, 800/448-5567, www.bluejacketinc.com [7], 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat. Jun.–mid-Oct.; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri. mid-Oct.–May) has row upon row of glass cases full of model sloops, dories, tugs, and military vehicles. It sells both kits for enthusiasts and wood and rigging material for scratch builders.