Visit ELEVEN to the Big Chicken Barn in Ellsworth has me lost for words. I think its name should be changed. This book and antique shop goes way beyond “big.” Probably “Mind-Boggling Chicken Barn” is too much of a mouthful, but it’s not a stretch. 

Mike and Annegret, along with their son, Chad, run this staggering business which is in its 33rd year of operation. And, yes, it is indeed a former chicken barn; there’s no doubt about it from the outside. Mainers are known for reusing things. This is a tremendous way to reuse a building. 

The first floor is filled with antiques as fifty dealers have every imaginable type of treasure on display. Also on the first floor is a local book area. Each item in this space is either on a Maine topic or written by a Maine author. Try not to get stuck browsing there though because most of the books are on the second floor. The ENTIRE second floor.

When you walk up the stairs, you are in the middle of the barn. From that vantage point, you can hardly see the end of the building — and that’s only half the story. Despite the massive size, you can’t get lost. It is easy to navigate as everything is organized and tidy. And there’s no chance that someone can sneak up on you because the wooden floor boards provide a squeaky accounting for every visitor’s movement. Along with the tens of thousands of books, you can find a myriad of vintage magazines and comic books.

You’re going to need to visit this one in person because the magnitude of the place goes beyond my ability to describe it. Even my pictures can’t do this landmark justice, but I’m including a few more than usual on this blog post to give you a tiny taste.

I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check here to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this adventure, see the about page.