Marden's — Local services in Brewer

TLDR: Store is in rough condition, know your regular market pricing, deals are few and far between, decent furniture.

Marden’s is one of the local gems and rainy day activities that you could always spend time at. It’s a discount salvage store, so expect to find liquidation items and such from stores that recently closed. Lately, there have been a ton of what appears to be Amazon returns and seasonal items like candy or patio furniture. Additionally, you can find some nice pieces of furniture and they're Maine’s largest mattress seller. I love Marden’s, and I’ve been shopping here for years, but it is my belief that the store has been going downhill ever since society started rebuilding after C19.

The store is in rough shape physically. I don’t expect it to be pristine like a Bed Bath and Beyond (RIP), but the store is getting more worn down by the visit. The lighting is dim, items are tossed onto shelves and piled on each other if they aren’t in display boxes, and there’s duct tape holding every corner of the building together. While it won’t happen, a simple deep clean and some better lighting could really help the place.

Items used to make sense and have potential, but now it seems like half the store is just shelves and shelves of Amazon returns. Everything is in a plastic bag or a blank cardboard box with a white sticker label showing a description of what’s inside. You really have to take your time to look at everything and move stuff around to figure out what you’re looking at, but most of it is useless. I’ve seen trunk arms for a specific 2000’s vehicle, a random shower head, a wig, battery operated puck lights, and ONE curtain all in the same place, not to mention all the items in severely damaged or missing packaging. You could find some decent clothes if you look hard, shoes are bottom of the barrel picks, and they have decent electronics. $150 isn’t bad for an HP laptop for someone on a budget. The hardware section, flooring, fabrics, and houseware sections are generally well stocked. If you’re doing DIY projects, check out their construction materials. They recently had doors hung in doorframes, toilets, water heaters, flooring accessories and transitions, etc.

If you do find something you like, immediately compare prices on your phone if you’re not familiar with the item. True deals are few and far between, and you need to know your prices to make a fair comparison. Something might look like a good deal, but it might only be 20% off retail price online. If I’m just window shopping, it’s usually not justifiable to get it. Now, $20 for a twin pack of Serta pillows was a steal. I also got a 3M headlight repair kit for 70% off and a popular Xbox game for $6. Deals are there, but they’re rare and you simply have to know what you’re looking at.

Marden’s has decent furniture, including mattresses. We’ve gotten a queen sized, pillow-topped mattress for a fraction of the cost of a local mattress store, and it’s held up for a long time. Bed frames are relatively cheap, including box springs. The furniture is on the pricey side, but they have a varied selection compared to other stores that only carry certain styles or collections. I’d recommend the bedding before a couch or large appliance.

Overall, Marden’s is great to spend some time on a rainy day or to hopefully find a random thing for a project. It’s a large store that you have to slow down to go through, and you need to be aware of market pricing to find a deal. Sometimes you win, sometimes you walk away empty handed like I do most of the time now. It’s fun, but it’s simply not what it used to be, much like everything else these days. I’m not mad, just disappointed. To the kind staff, keep up the good work!

Best...

I absolutely love Marden's, however, it can be an organizational nightmare! They are a salvage company of sorts with a revolving inventory, so there is always a good chance to find a hidden treasure mixed in amongst the regular and expected finds. They have a large fabric area with what looks to be quite the selection. In the back there are large area rugs hanging up in an effort to reduce/eliminate bumps and wrinkles. The whole back corner is always filled with recliners, love seats, couches, mattresses and other furniture for your home. They have clothes and shoes, bedding, towels, storage, some appliances. There is a variety of basic tools along with hardware (nails, screws...etc).

You really never know what you're going to find there and the pricing is pretty awesome! My last visit I got a 24 count of Hart colored permanent markers in a container (pictured included) for easy marker selection...for only $7.99! We had stopped there for sandpaper hahaha.

Whether you have something specific in mind or just feel like poking around, there's seriously something for everyone. I will also mention that if there is a larger item you are going back and forth in your head about purchasing...BUY IT!!! I was crushing on this wicked nice leather recliner a few years back. It was brand new, but the leather had that warn down comfy almost cotton vibe to it...you would just melt right into it I had put like a 20 or 30 minute hold on it to make an official decision. I took too long and it was gooone. There is a saying 🎶I should've bought it, when I saw it, at Ma-arden's🎶...you do not want to feel like you're being mocked by that catchy little phrase hahaha. So if you like it and on the fence about buying...

Attention Craig Burgess, My name is Lionel Madore and I am a builder and business owner on MDI, Seasonal and nightly vacation rentals. Acadia getawaysLLC. I and my business partner recently had the wonderful experience of encountering Joe Thompson. At your brewer, location to help us get flooring for 1 of hour new rental units. To say a breath of fresh air was, I don't understatement. We travel back-and-forth between Maine, California and Florida. And so therefore, getting into the store is not really an option, a lot of times especially when all our employees are busy and especially this time of year, when we're getting everything up And running. He politely Suggested that, why didn't he just send me some pictures of what you had in stock and that way, we could select and have one of our guys come up and get it. That was way beyond what I expected, and would have ever asked for. This sort of exemplary customer service need to be rewarded. I am in the throes of trying to hire several more Employees, And let's just say it's very hard to find people on the coast of Maine nowadays. I grew up there, I mean, biggest export as a graduate of the university of maine, I love my state, And I love my people. And to find someone who's willing to do that, extra mile like joe is awesome! I want this to get back to someone, I hope it...