Portland, Maine is the perfect New England town. I sort of see it as a less crowded (and less crazy) version of Boston. All of that Yankee charm and none of the hassle. The town is especially attractive when you live in a place like New York (like me) and have to deal with the daily assault on your senses. What also makes Portland a viable home (in my mind) is its access to Barbour coats via the shop Barbour by David Wood. Because I don’t want to live in a town that doesn’t sell Barbour coats. I just don’t. Mail order be damned.
I’m only kidding about the availability of Barbour coats being a factor in where I live, but I’m not kidding about Barbour by David Wood being a great shop. The oilcloth-outpost is essentially a company store that stocks the full collection (something I have only seen on a few occasions), including the Barbour Beacon range designed by To Ki To. So if you are looking for a specific jacket you couldn’t find at other Barbour retailers, chances are Barbour by David Wood will have it. Now you know. Plus the staff is friendly and the shop’s location is about as perfect setting as any to buy outerwear for inclement weather. And Portland better watch out, I might get my Barbours together and migrate north. You’ve been warned. [Barbour by David Wood]
Barbour by David Wood | 237 Commercial Street Portland, Maine | (207) 699-5551
have you checked out the barbour outlet in kittery, maine? i’m not recommending you move there but it’s worth a look.
@mikael – I really liked your show at the Chelsea Hotel recently.
Ok, on to the point.
I’ve been to this store and it’s great. It’s really two stores in one – one side being all Barbour and the other being well edited selections from brands that have been talked about here (plus a few others). To find retail done this well in a smaller city outside of a major metropolitan area does good things for my heart – but bad things for my wallet.
Really worth checking out. Thanks for the article.
I love the Bike! Is it a Royal Enfield ?
And the Store looks great 2 …
..how much for the cricket bats?
Just visited this store last month, when my wife & I spent an extended weekend in Portland. The gentleman working that day was great and had lived for years near where we live currently (Knoxville, TN). I picked up Barbour’s excellent wool fingerless gloves and the snap-on hood for my Beaufort jacket. Loved the store and the service!
Just picked up a Barbour coat from the outlet store, only $115 for fall.
I’ll be picking up that Tartan cap…
Very nice indeed. The design and layout puts most of the UK-based Barbour shops to shame!
Mikael Kennedy, awesome photographer / artist. I don’t know much about the bike in the store, but shit looks awesome, black with gold, so classy.
@ramalhoni The one under the table is a Vincent Black Shadow, and I’m pretty sure the one in the front of the store is an old Triumph.
I can’t believe I missed the Vincent. It deserves a picture all its own.
Truth be told, the only Barbour shop I’ve been to is in Boston. It’s more cluttered and the offerings weren’t anything spectacular, just the usual suspects. This shop looks like it’s got the products as well as the showroom to stand out. Good post, MW.
those bikes should be on the road. they look too good, along with all those jackets.
Apparently you didn’t stay long enough to see the roving bands of tattoed ‘guys’ and ‘gays.’ They don’t call it Portweirdland for nothing. It’s a beautiful city. If you missed Peaks Island, shame on you. Walkable, ok food (don’t be fooled by the NYTimes love letters about a food wonderland, it’s just ok.) beautiful architecture, very friendly people, and incredibly close to the most beautiful beaches on the upper east coast. Better get a little cabin while you can. However, you can also see the problems that the recession has caused all of ME in little Portland.
Glad to see you visit Portland. You are correct that this little city is like Boston without all the hassle. Great sports (Red Sox AA team, plus hockey and basketball minor league teams), great food, great beer and even great shops like this one.
By the way, the photos are great. I particularly like the first one from the front of the store that shows the shadow of the front window on the wall. It almost looks like it was painted there.
I was just in the area a month ago and didn’t know to look for this store. I won’t make that mistake again.
Great find. I especially loved the Beacon Range – looks like significantly more inspired pieces that come in at similar Belstaff price points. Might have to make a trip out there this Winter.
The bikes are amazing and are owned by Mike, a wonderful guy who lives in Portland. In fact, the large format image of a couple on a bike (at the back of the store) features Mike and his wife. He’s such a sweet guy!
What a neat store! Have owned a Barbour jacket since the 70’s never get tired of there selection of items! Great find!
I love this shop: amazing selection and the retail guys are warm and helpful. I WANT TO MOVE TO MAINE SO BADLY!
Great looking store, Great town. Using a Vincent to hold up a merchandise table in any other store would probably earn somebody a kick straight to the balls.
I own 4 barbours. 2 are in need of mending. Although i like them torn up too. I do Love Portland but the winter is long and the water is too cold until August.
Did you get yourself a birthday present ?
Michael, did you go to Rogues?
I used to do a ton of work in Portland- love that city. Did you get breakfast at Bintliff’s?
oh- and I agree about the kittery store- I got a quilted jacket, a bunch of shirts and some other stuff there over the last couple years.
What makes Portland a great town – and I’ve lived in the west coast namesake too – is the proximity to the water. It’s right there – a working port with plenty of space for recreation. New England Monthly magazine – long gone but not forgotten – did a cover story on Portland calling it the ‘Best Place to Live in New England’ and they got it right. Spectacular natural setting, two hours north of Boston, easy access to recreation and a bounty of good restaurants, shopping and a general high quality of life. How many cities can you finish work at 5:30p and be on your sailboat tacking across the harbor at 6pm? Exactly.
Duckfat.
Giuseppe’s Duckfat comment is right on the money. That place is amazing and a real gem of portland. Belgian fries deep fried in Duckfat with creative dipping sauces….I mean come on. I’d add fore street restaurant to my list of Portland misses too. Overall really glad to see you giving Portland some love though Michael..the fact that it’s in conjunction with Barbour just makes it better. I spent a ton of time there throughout college and just loved the vibe. The cobblestone streets, amazing beer scene, and big city feel in a relatively small town is hard to beat. They can keep those winters though. Good riddance.
For those of you interested in the main website for the store, it’s here:
http://www.davidwood.com/
The URL mentioned in the blog post is for the online store only.
Appreciate the Portland Love. Lived there from 94-04 and will miss the peninsula every day until I move back. All of the things mentioned in the above comments are cool, but don’t really add up to why it’s a special place to live.
@Charles Bix: Nobody has ever called it Portweirdland. That doesn’t even make sense.
i’m not sure why any man would wear a quilted jacket. they’re appropriate for old women and that is all.
I love Portland as well….haven’t spent enough time there even though I only live 2 hours south in Boston. More trips north!
Nautical geeks should check out China Sea….it’s a pretty incredible marine/nautical antiques shop.
http://www.chinaseatrading.com/
@jbjones. Put on a quilted coat and see.
Women love a man in a quilted coat.
Ugh…no Boston/Portland comparisons please…I’m a Mainer myself originally, can’t believe I never knew about this place and I only grew up about ten minutes south of Portland!
Hey guys,
I was going through the Barbour website and I’m in the market for a jacket. What is the most common Barbour jacket that’s popular, for example, North Face has the denali jacket.
Thanks
Beaufort is classic
anyhow, seems nice shop to live near by ;)
Awesome store and super friendly staff. I literally could go broke there. I agree with Michael, Portland has a sort of charm you dont see in other New England cities. The area has a lot to offer really; Freeport Outlets with a two level Cole Haan Outlet and a 24 hour LL Bean! Great food and bar scene too!
-RJ
@THC,
I think also the Bedale is considered the other classic as well.
Is one more classic than the other?
Just added this store to the list of places to visit next time I’m East. Looks amazing and any store with a bike on the floor is worth visiting in my book.
Fantastic shots. I love Barbour products!
My parents have lived in Portland for the past 6 years. During the holidays last year, I was up visting with my boyfriend (I live in NYC). We were hosting a “bowtie mandatory” new year’s party that year, and that’s where we went to get his. The owner himself was there and was one of the nicest, most interesting men I’ve ever met.
(And the clothes are great too)
So many great things on this site but it took a Barbour posting to get me to register to comment. Love this store and all things Barbour, keep up the great work! I’m planning my trip to Portland.
@Charles Bix; I’m with Josh, no one calls it Portweirdland. Ever.
Who designed this store? It looks fabulous- i love the racks that the coats are hanging on.