Sherman's Book Shop to open in Saco next week

Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops is set to open in Saco next week.

Owners Jeff Curtis and Maria Boord Curtis said the bookstore will open June 26 at the Saco Valley Shopping Center, 4 Scammon St.

This will be the 10th Sherman’s Book Shop in the state, with other stores located in Damariscotta, Boothbay Harbor, Freeport, Bar Harbor, Portland, Rockland, Topsham, Windham and Falmouth.

On Wednesday, the bookstore was starting to take shape, with staff busily organizing merchandise. There were rows of children’s books and adult fiction, displays of titles by local authors, and a non-fiction section organized by topic.

“We’re a complete bookstore,” said Curtis. And if a customer can’t find the book they’re looking for, it can likely be special ordered.

There is also a carefully curated selection of games and puzzles, toys, greeting cards, Maine-made jewelry and other unique items.

“People love to come to our stores and shop for birthday presents. There’s a little bit of everything,” said Curtis.

Sherman’s is one of the 10 oldest bookstores in the country. It was started in Bar Harbor in 1886 by Bill Sherman, who passed the business down to his daughters. It was sold to Mike and Pat Curtis in 1962, who passed it down to Jeff and his family.

The couple chose the Saco location for their newest store because it felt like a walkable, neighborhood shopping center close to downtown and also had plenty of parking for those driving to the store, said Boord Curtis.

“This location is what called my name,” she said.

And for those taking their dogs to get groomed at the Wag N’ Wash pet store next door, Sherman’s is dog friendly.

Curtis and Boord Curtis said business has been good, despite the onset of online shopping. Bookstores are destinations for both locals and tourists, they said.

“People just love to browse in bookstores. The threat of the internet didn’t hurt us. You can’t browse on the internet like you can in a bookstore,” said Curtis.

Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Saco will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.