Abacus Gallery

Abacus is a surprisingly large gallery full of expensive things, but to me it seems to be more about size and the ridiculousness of some of the pieces and less about the careful curation of things that someone might actually buy. But that’s just my opinion, there were always people at the cash registers and they seem to know who their customer is and what they’ll buy.
If you’re new to K’port, be sure to check out Abacus. But take a look at some of the smaller shops too, I think they’re much more interesting.

As a first experience, I was truly taken by this quirky and quaint store. My husband and I left with many treasures, among them one lovely right-​handed mug. After having it at home for a week’s time, we decided to see if we could order three more for a set of four. Much to our delight, we ordered three additional seamlessly. Upon our receipt, it appeared that there was a slight imperfection in one mug. I noticed
That this mug would leave a very wet residue on any surfaced it touched. One day my husband mistakenly grabbed this mug for his hot coffee and found that this leak was due to a growing hairline crack (previously seen as an imperfection) that led to him being scalded by the contents of his cup and dropping the mug quickly. We discarded this mug and its contents soon after as part of our cleanup effort. Given the three remaining, I thought I would attempt to replace this mug hoping for a shipping discount or some sort of recognition by the shop for this inconvenience. Instead, I was told that without a picture of the damage, I could Not even be offered a $ 5 shipping discount for the replacement. I expressed my discontent and my intent to no longer offer my business to this store and received NO RESPONSE. So after a minimum of $ 250 spent at this store, I was unable To be extended good faith for a shipping discount… If you anticipate customer service, shop elsewhere…

We loved this place! There are so many interesting pieces to check out! Unlike most other galleries around, you can actually buy something here without breaking the bank. We cannot wait to go back and see what they have next time we are in the area!

Spacious, well lit gallery with a great mix of home goods and pieces created by local Maine artists. I thought it was a small shop, but was pleasantly surprised when I walked to the back wall to find there was more goodness around the corner!
There were lots of fun pieces to look at and I could be entertained here for a good hour. I do believe they have multiple locations, so if you can’t make it to Kennebunkport, check out their other branch in downtown Portland. Awesome place to check out if you’re looking to bring home a more upscale souvenir from your Maine adventure.

What a quirky art gallery/​store. There’s also a location in Ogunquit. This location is a lot bigger than it seems because in the back you can walk to another area where they have more little knick knacks and furniture. It’s just fun walking in this place and reading about how certain stuff is made or where it’s from. I found these christmas ball ornaments made from recycled magazine paper. There were also these beautiful seascapes-​glass boxes with sand and shells in them. The majority of the items weren’t over priced. We purchased this wooden box with an engraved quote on it for $ 36 and a pop out 3D dog for $ 12 and I got a charm for my bracelet for $ 12. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience to walk around even if you aren’t going to buy anything-there’s a lot of neat stuff to look through. My hubby and I liked this $ 700 clock-​just cool to admire.

There’s a ton to love in this artist’s and art lover’s haven, and it’s more than a little apparent when you walk in the place that it appears to have been decorated with a personal touch, less so the personal touch of some of the more touristy kitsch one can’t help but trip over in town, but something borne out of a need to create or an appreciation of the same. Nothing’s perfect in this world, but I found myself exclaiming that it sure would have been easy to drop a pretty coin in this store.
Abacus isn’t as complex as the name might indicate, nor as dated (from what I recall, they were using real calculators at the cash register), but the owner’s an artist, and it’s his monthly art calendars that dot the wall behind the payout. Elsewhere, we found impressive and quirky glassware, several funky robots (!), metal ware and woodworking with an eye toward whimsical and modern flourishes, metal and illuminated letter stamp and oversized lettering, and some chests and other furniture that ranged from recalling childhood wonder or sleek lines.
And of course I bought none of that, instead opting for a unique screen-​printed tie, stamped with the silhouette of some sort of typewriter relic, hovering above an electric blue. I can’t wait to wear it out one day soon, if only by virtue of the fact that when I inevitably share where I scored it, I can drop hints regarding all the other pieces I grinned wildly at inside. Let the oohing and aahing begin.

I enjoyed looking around this place, but I don’t think I would buy anything. This is one of those shops where they have cool handmade stuff, and though I absolutely support the plight of the artist, I can’t justify $ 800 for a handmade box. Another annoyance is that they carry Sticks furniture (google it if you don’t know). I find their furniture not classy and just… brash and overbearing, really.
A super fun place to look around, but for me — it’s not to buy.

This is another cool place to shop when in Maine. It also has one-​off work done by local artists, so if you’re tired of the normal outlet mall shops come here for a nice break. As with any art, the pieces are a little expensive, but if you don’t mind paying a little more for nice pieces then that won’t deter your view at all.