One of my favorite parts about living in Maine, is all the roadside stands and quirky small businesses that seem to thrive here.
It could be someone selling lobsters off their dock, cheesecake slices out of their garage, mittens off a picnic table on their front porch, fig filled pastries at the end of their driveway or baked goods out of a shed alongside their home.
For some reason, it just works here in the great state of Maine.
And it’s all done with very little fanfare and in most cases, you find out about these places by word of mouth as there isn’t much in the way of advertising other than a sign {if even that!} out in front of their place.
And I LOVE it!!!
A few Saturdays ago, The Duck Lady and I went to checkout Rose Cottage Bakery in Camden, Maine.
Rose Cottage Bakery is located in a residential neighborhood a few streets from downtown Camden where the owner, Megan Murphy offers a boatload of seasonal sweet treats to the people that line up at her place on Saturday mornings.
Just standing in line {and not knowing what would be left by the time we got up to the counter} was exciting! There was even a neighbor boy outside juggling for the crowd as people waited to get their baked goods.
Cinnamon rolls, cake slices, cookies, brownies, dinner rolls and scones… it was all there {with plenty more in the back and in the house} by the time we got up to place our order.
It all happened so quickly that by the time we had paid and made our way out the side door I wasn’t even sure what we had bought. 🙂
Hopscotch!!
Once we made it outside we peeled back the lid on our box and OH MY… it was like a dream come true. 🙂 And well you know me, I love researching new places {especially ones that involve pastries}.
Picnic tables are a big deal here in Maine and so I told The Duck Lady she needed to set up a “coffee stand” at her place too so that when people stopped by to buy her flowers and vegetables and baked goods they could linger a little longer just like the customers at the Rose Cottage Bakery do.
I’m always giving her suggestions. 😉
Maine, the way life should be.
Have I told you how much I LOVE it here? 🙂
The Rose Cottage Bakery in Camden, it’s just another reason to visit Maine.
The place is a 10 out of 10 and totally worth the trip in my book.
~Mavis
Rose Cottage Bakery
36 Limerock Street
Camden, Maine 04843
Cindy Miller says
Curious, what is the story with the pottery shards? You sure find some interesting places! 🙂
Annoumous says
And she appreciates the suggestions.
Jennifer says
Does she have a commercial kitchen or does Maine not require it? Most states are so strict about selling home baked goods and I know it’s illegal in NC. Even food trucks have to be associated with a commercial kitchen to operate.
HollyG says
In Oregon you may sell up to $20,000 annually (bread, rolls, cakes, pies, doughnuts, pastries, cookies, biscuits, crackers, candy or sweets) without having a commercial kitchen inspection. The law was passed in 2016, to create new small-business opportunities for home bakers.
RobininSoCal says
Even here in commie California we have the ability to get a Cottage Food Industry permit aka The Cottage Food Bill. https://www.rivcoeh.org/OurServices/Foods/CottageFoodOperations
Mary G says
That all looks amazing! Quite the find. Did you have to get there really early to have a good spot in line?
Ashley Bananas says
I’m ready for a total and complete life change. Working on the whole thing.
Margaret Hudgins says
I would sooo love a life change to mid-coast Maine. Mavis makes it sound so dang appealing.
Annette says
You are a teacher, correct? I saw a survey today that said something like 75% of teachers do not recommend being a teacher.
Ashley Bananas says
Hi Annette, I narrowly escaped a life in the education field and went into the library system instead. Being a teacher is hugely meaningful, but not easy or well paying. Praise to our teachers.
HollyG says
I got lucky and had the best of both worlds. I taught Biology, Chemistry and Forensic Science for 23 years and then was able to transition into the teacher-librarian role for 10 years. It was fantastic.
Holley says
Oh my goodness this sounds like heaven!!!! You are so lucky, Mavis!
Peggy says
Is that a peanut butter/chocolate chip cookie?!?!?!?!?!!!!
Stacie says
I absolutely LOVE that those business thrive in Maine. I live in Texas and there’s nothing of the sort that I have seen; we just have the occasional farmers’ market with vendors selling homemade goods.
Lynn Y says
I never tire of hearing you talk about Maine. It sounds like they have very easy-going cottage-industry laws, which is how it should be.