One Hundred Dollars a Month

I’ve been meaning to tell you about H.B. Provisions in Kennebunk, Maine for about a million and twenty seven days. Or at least since The Girl and I found it way back in 2015 {or was it 2014?} when we were driving up the coast of New England on a snowy day in March while on one of our spring break adventures.

It was one of the very first “General Stores” we discovered and I remember the both of us being gobsmacked that stores like this existed. If you live around these parts, then you know general stores aren’t especially unique here in New England. But to two girls who both grew up surrounded by strip malls in high maintenance suburbia in Washington state, finding these little general stores dotted along the landscape as we traveled up and down the coast, was very exciting.

Now I’m pretty sure H.B. Provisions in Kennebunk, Maine doesn’t sell hammers and nails, but it does offer fresh fruit and veggies, light bulbs and toilet paper. Oh, and a hot meal {with plenty of seating} so for me, it totally counts as a classic New England general store in my book.

It’s also a great place to get a small last minute gift {think Mugs and locally made stuff} or a few groceries on your way home from work if you don’t want to drive all the way to the regular big box grocery store.

H.B. Provisions is kind of like an old school corner market, but with tourists {during the summer and fall months} and lot’s of hot meals that can be made to order or scooped up from the 2 buffet style {hot and cold} bars in the center of the store.

Soup by the pound? Fascinating. No matter where you go, clam chowder and tomato soup are ALWAYS on the menu here in New England. I don’t know why, but I find that interesting. Clam chowder… yes, but tomato soup?

Those Mainers…. They are are a creative lot.

So. H.B. Provisions has an enormous coffee stand that I am STILL trying to figure out. For starters, they sell bulk beans.

And then, there is the island of hot coffee with about 20 different blends to choose from. If you are a tea drinker, you’re kind of stuck with regular or decaf Lipton tea bags. Occasionally I’ve seen a packet or two of Earl Grey but I think that’s pretty rare. There’s also hot cocoa packets and you have to have a keen eye to spot the red hot water tap if you’re hoping to fill up your cup. And the water… it’s HOT HOT HOT. So consider yourself warned.

Sugar and milk come from a machine. 3 pumps of sugar for a tall tea is about right {just in case you were wondering}. I’m sure the whole set up/system makes sense to someone, but for me, getting tea there makes me anxious.

But the bagel and lox there is OUT OF THIS WORLD, and it’s totally worth putting up with the coffee station maze. 🙂 🙂 🙂

H.B. Provisions in Kennebunk, Maine. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Go there for breakfast. Or lunch, or dinner. Or hey, just go for a cuppa and people watch. You’ll be so glad you did.

Have an awesome Thursday everyone,

~Mavis

H.B. Provisions
15 Western Ave
Kennebunk, ME 04043