The Island Market – Islesboro, Maine — One of my goals this year is to explore more of the great state of Maine. And while there are over 4,000 islands in Maine, there are only about 15 with year round communities.
I didn’t start out on a mission to see them all, but now I’m thinking we need to get out there and investigate each and every one of them. I mean, the thought of living on an island. How cool would that be?
Earlier this week while the HH and I were out and about on our date day, we took the ferry to Islesboro, Maine. Islesboro has a year round population of about 650 residents. So honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when we stopped off at The Island Market before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
But what do you know…
We found another winner! Another general store with oodles of character and everything you could want and then some from a island market 3 miles off the coast of Maine.
The shelves were stocked with plenty of food and toiletries, they had a deli, a produce section, a frozen food aisle, a couple of homemade cakes {a beautiful vanilla cake with lemon curd filling caught my eye. I wanted to buy it but the HH just looked at me like I was crazy!}.
There was even fresh bread!
And these ladies!
These ladies can cook let me tell you. While I was grabbing an iced tea out of the cooler, the HH happened to walk by the deli area as the lady in the white apron {I didn’t catch her name} was holding up a foil covered plate and asking Bill if he wanted squash with his hot lunch.
I have no idea who Bill was, but before I knew it we were buying their hot lunch special of the day and heading out the door to catch the ferry.
I didn’t even know what was under the foil until we were in the car because I was so excited to find my favorite McVities digestive biscuits at the store. But then I peeled back the foil on the hot lunch special and WHOA NELLY…..
Would you look at that!!!
I told my husband that if this is what lunch looks like on an ordinary day in the middle of winter on Islesboro, we need to sell all our kitchen equipment and move there. Because seriously, who needs to cook when you can have a meal like this everyday.
I mean c’mon people, there is even a post office is right across the street! It’s like a sign. It’s a sign I tell you. What more could we possibly need?
- Good Food
- Internet Service
- Post Office
- A Beach
- Enough Room for My Wool
- A Quiet Setting
Gaaaaa! Islesboro. I’m in love.
If you are visiting Maine, put this place {and the Island Market!} on your list.
You won’t be disappointed.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone,
~Mavis
The Island Market
113 Main Rd
Islesboro, ME 04848
Linda says
love
Maine
Hope to visit the Farnsworth Museum this summer
sdsb says
Is it just me or is Digestive an odd name?
Mavis Butterfield says
I’d like to think that a few cookies a day {along with tea} helps you digest your food better. 🙂
Sdsb says
I totally agree and some chocolate too!
Sdsb says
Looks perfect but I am wondering about the spiders it is famous for?
Mavis Butterfield says
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up-island_spider
Note to self: Cover self with sticky tape the next time I go. Yikes!!!!
Teri says
What a cool place to live! Is there a library?
The prices are probably higher than the mainland or not? For example how much was the delicious looking lunch?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes it has a library. I don’t remember how much the lunch was but I think we paid $19 for the lunch, a big cookie, the box of digestives {that I think were around $4.50} and two drinks. So maybe around $8 for lunch? Grocery prices were a little higher, but not outrageous at all. If I lived on island, I’d probably do 2 major stock up trips a year and then buy everything else at the little store. To live without a bunch of street noise or even off in the distance…. how cool would that be?
Teri says
Sounds lovely. Except for the spiders! Thanks for the info!
Jennifer says
I was coming to ask the cost of lunch too and was surprised it wasn’t more.
Anonymous says
Hot lunch is only in the winters, unfortunately. No restaurants in the summer.
Tamara says
Not true! We bought our hot lunch today. September 20,2021.
Carolina Cooper says
I hope you put my favorite place in the universe on your summer “to visit” list—Monhegan Island. Farther “at sea” than Isleboro—but I think you would also love it.
Barbara Chace says
Hi Carolina….I love Mohegan also! Years ago I went with family and we climbed a cliff trail to the top. What an amazing view! Problem was, I am not in very good condition and I thought I wouldn’t make it up the trail. I thought I was gonna die. Then I found out I could have just walked up the hill and I would have been at the end of the trail. Oh well, if that view had been my last sight I ever saw, I could have died a happy woman.
Barbara
judy says
Mavis, Did you know, there is a recepie for digestive biscuts in the downton abbey cookbook? No chocolate is mentioned, but you could just dip it in some.
Nancy says
I could live there- how enjoyable it would be.
judy says
Mavis, there is a recipie for digestive biscuts in the downton abby cookbook!!!!! No chocolate mentioned but you could just dip them in some.
Peg says
Are you softening the blow to tell us you’re moving again?
DebbieB says
When she said she could live there I said “uh oh.” Lol!
Lana says
Friends lived on an island for several years for work and they said it is not cool at all when it costs so much to go to the mainland. Also where they were everything was closed in the winter. They were glad when they were finished with that job and left the island.
Stacy says
Very important question: Does Amazon deliver to the island? 🙂 Seriously, is there a specially mail ferry or something, even though there is a post office on the island.
Mavis Butterfield says
As long as there is a post office on the island I can get anything delivered. Even wool. 🙂 And yes, the mail arrives via the ferry boat.
Chef A. says
I came across this wonderful write-up as I was googling the phone number for this very store! Embarrassing, considering I’ve lived on Islesboro off and on for the past 15 years. I love The Island Market, and those winter time hot lunch specials kept me going on many a chilly day. Loony (the woman in the white apron) makes an absolutely unbelievable Boursin Steak and Cheese sub, that she serves with an assortment of chips (it’s like a grab bag, you never know what you’re gonna get), and even as a local chef, I make a point to buy one every time I see the sign.
As for the spider concern, it’s worth noting that the large spiders you’re thinking of are lovingly referred to as “Up-Island Spiders,” and you shouldn’t expect to see them south of “The Narrows,” which is the approximate half-way marker. I’ve lived “down island” for a majority of my years, and while my spiders are getting a bit bigger, they’re nothing compared to the audible footsteps of those up-island monsters.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit, come back soon!