Bangor’s only dedicated toy store is moving — but just to the larger storefront next door.
The new location for Out on a Whimsey is set to open by this weekend, according to store manager Bryant Hall.
The toy store first moved into Bangor’s 49 Main St. in fall 2022. The new space at 43 Main St. was home to Rebecca’s Gift Shop for nearly 40 years until its owners retired and the longtime business closed in July 2024.
The move, which Hall said adds about 50% more space for the toy store, is one of several changes to Bangor’s Main Street this fall, with two new restaurants recently opening in the downtown corridor.
“We needed the room,” Hall said about why his team is making the switch, noting that the old space was too narrow and the new one gives them more space to spread out.
Hall initially wasn’t sure how much work would need to be done in the new store but said the move has stuck to a tight timeline — it’s only taken about three weeks to relocate.
“I’m really happy with the progress we’ve been able to make,” he said. The team is focused now on opening and decided to hold off on cosmetic fixes like replacing the flooring and painting until next year, he added.
Out on a Whimsey is based in Belfast, where it first opened in the early 2000s and similarly traded up to a larger space on the same block in 2018. It sells a variety of toys, games, puzzles and books. The locally owned company previously had a location in Blue Hill, which was sold to a longtime store manager earlier this year.
