The Maynard Outdoor store epitomizes what makes small towns like Maynard such a pleasure to visit. This store changes with the times but not much. It has stayed in one family for two generations, and employee turnover is low, so customers develop relationships with the staff. I think the same guy has been fitting my sneakers for close to 30 years. Although the store added a separate woman’s department years ago, it kept its tin ceilings and linoleum floors. Prices remain fair; quality is still excellent; and the service is always hospitable.


I took my kids here when they were little and outfitted them with jeans, shoes, and outerwear. The selection was not trendy but it was perfect for country living: an entire wall of blue jeans, racks and racks of vests, gloves, wool socks, and camping gear. As one employee said, “It’s kind of like L. L. Bean without the guns and canoes.”