Black Parrot in Rockland
There are stores you browse, and then there are stores you explore. Black Parrot is firmly in the latter category. Tucked into the far end of Rockland’s Main Street, this design-forward shop has been open since 1994 and continues to surprise new visitors who wander in thinking it’s a typical boutique. Owner Sherrie Gibson has been curating the space for three decades, bringing in a rotating mix of fashion, home goods, kitchenware, books, stationery, and even a full cabinet of banned children’s literature.
It’s a store that rewards curiosity. The longer you linger, the more you notice: Japanese Limnos clocks, Parisian perfumes, minimalist water kettles that connect via Bluetooth, and textiles from Melin Tregwynt, a Welsh company so respected they were knighted by the Queen. The clothing, much of it European, is selected not for trends but for form, function, and texture. Sherrie, who now sources pieces from Milan and Paris, says she values uniqueness over hype: “If everyone else has it, why would I want it?”
Despite its high design ethos, Black Parrot isn’t a place that takes itself too seriously. You’ll find $900 blankets near $1.99 erasers. One corner is filled with cookbooks and architecture anthologies; another is lined with whimsical greeting cards and fountain pens. It’s the kind of shop that New Yorkers walk into and say, “I wish we had this back home.”
If you care about craft, or you’re the kind of shopper who would rather discover than scroll, put Black Parrot on your list. It’s not just worth the stop—it might be the highlight of your day.
FAMOUS FOR:
Black Parrot is known for its globally sourced fashion, banned children’s books, cult-favorite perfumes, and design-forward objects you won’t find anywhere else in Maine.
ADDRESS:
328 Main St, Rockland, ME
WEBSITE:
blackparrotmaine.com
photos by Peter Logue
