Bell Farm Shops In York, Maine
- Brick + Tides
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Bell Farm Shops in York has a presence that stops people in their tracks. The tall red barn at 244 US Route 1 looks like it could be the set of a movie. The cupola rises above the rooftops with a horse weathervane. The morning sun rests on the shingles and the red picket fence. Wind chimes move on the porch, and a row of brightly painted birdhouses greets every car that pulls in.
Many people recognize the building long before they know the story. For owners Michelle and John Corgan, the building is more than a landmark. It is the beginning of a life they created with hope, instinct, and a remarkable amount of courage.
A Storybook Beginning on Route 1
Michelle remembers the moment everything changed. She and John were living in New Jersey and planning their wedding. They were ready for a different kind of life. John asked his employer if he could work remotely. Michelle thought it was a long shot, but he was approved. Suddenly they had a chance to imagine something new.
“I did not have a job at the time,” Michelle says. “My background was in buying and corporate retail. We were looking for land because we were getting married and kept wondering if we should do something in the wedding world. But we realized we had no idea what we were doing.”
John, who grew up in Kennebunk, shifted the search from empty land to existing businesses. That is when the York property appeared on a real estate website. The listing was primarily for the building. The business seemed like a bonus. The listing emphasized the property, and the business was included as a complimentary asset.
They drove to Maine to take a look. When they walked into the antique shop that had operated there for thirty years, everything felt right.
“Judy was the sweetest lady,” Michelle says. “We immediately fell in love with the feeling inside. It felt warm. It felt like a Hallmark movie. We just went for it.”
Family made it possible. The property included an attached home that felt too small for Michelle and John but perfect for John’s parents. They moved in and joined the adventure. The building became home for three generations.
The Early Days and the Coldest Winter
The Corgans bought the property at the end of 2017 and began operating in early 2018. It was a freezing winter. There were propane shortages across the region.
“We almost ran out of propane,” John says. “The whole place nearly froze. We had very limited inventory. It was amazing that we survived.”
The local community noticed their effort. Two long time employees of the antique shop stayed on and offered guidance. They taught Michelle what customers loved, which items were essential, and which traditions mattered. The original owners had left risers, furniture, QuickBooks files, and notes. The legacy became part of the foundation.
Michelle spent that first year learning the customers before she filled the shop.
“I did not want to bring in things that no one wanted,” she says. “Ninety percent of what I carried that first year is gone now. We had to learn who our people were.”
Inside Bell Farm Shops Three Experiences in One
The building unfolds in layers. Manager KD Roux knows every corner of it.
“Inside the barn it is really three shops in one,” KD says. “The front is the gift and home shop. Upstairs is our year round Christmas shop. The back is the bird and garden shop.”
Customers walk through a world of handcrafted gifts, pottery, jewelry, and coastal inspired home decor. Bright signs, local art, and seasonal displays give the space a warm and welcoming feel.
A Year Round Christmas Wonderland
The second floor is a Christmas world that stays open twelve months a year.
“The themes change every year,” KD says. “Michelle goes to buying shows and finds new ideas. People love the feeling of walking upstairs. They tell us it feels like stepping into a movie.”
Michelle lights up when she talks about it.
“I love Christmas,” she says. “I love gift giving and creating the perfect curated gift. That warm feeling is what I hope people experience here.”
Visitors come from everywhere. Families from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York visit annually. Contractors working at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard stop by for gifts to bring home. Travelers from the United Kingdom and Australia search for a keepsake ornament.
Some visitors return every year and feel like regulars even though they come only once. Others come twice in one weekend because they want more time to explore. A few tell Michelle that Bell Farm Shops has become part of their vacation tradition.
Birding, Garden Gifts, and Loyal Regulars
At the back of the building is a world devoted to backyard birds. It includes birdhouses, feeders, seed, baths, and all the things New England bird lovers treasure.
Weather can shape the business in surprising ways. KD remembers a warm winter when birds found natural food and feeders stayed full.
“We were not selling any seed because the birds were not eating it,” KD says. “We even had to put seed on sale because it is perishable. You learn to adjust to whatever nature brings.” Some bird customers have been visiting since the original owners.
Local Makers and New England Craftsmanship
Bell Farm Shops highlights more local makers than many larger stores.
A few local vendors that Visitors will find:
Bare Natural Soap Co from Westbrook
Autumn Designs Jewelry from York
Becoming Jewelry from Kennebunk
Porcupine Hills maple syrup made from trees in York
Bob Roux, ceramic potter and sculptor in Wells
Molly O cards from Freeport
Yam Collective candles from York
One of the most loved vendors is Charlie Abbott of Kittery. He is ninety one years old and makes birdhouses from recycled wood. Customers love both the craftsmanship and the story behind it.
“We try to carry a lot of local items along with other things that keep the store interesting,” Michelle says.
Events, Workshops, and Seasonal Magic
Michelle loves hosting events and finding ways to connect with the community. The property now includes a permanent tent for workshops and seasonal gatherings. They hold watercolor classes, wreath making workshops, and holiday events. Santa visits the cottage on the property each December, and families make reservations months in advance. Spots fill up as soon as the listing goes live in early November.
“It gives us a space where everyone can be comfortable even if the weather is cold or snowy,” Michelle says.
Outside the shop, Michelle’s sister in law, Erin Corgan, runs Nectar Cafe, a coffee + food truck. She offers everything from cinnamon rolls to seasonal drinks. Erin bakes treats and creates specialty coffees that have become fan favorites.
Perch and Petal A Portsmouth Sister Shop
One year ago Michelle and John opened a second store in Portsmouth called Perch and Petal. It is bright, flower inspired, and has a fresh coastal feel. It is bright, airy, and inspired by all things floral. It has a clean, modern boutique feel with touches of whimsy and joy. Michelle loves being part of the Portsmouth small business community where shop owners meet, share ideas, and support one another. “It feels like being part of something bigger,” she says.
Life in Southern Maine Beaches, Trails, and Local Favorites
When they are not in the shop or with their two young children, Michelle and John enjoy the same places their customers love.
They walk York Beach and the Rachel Carson trail in Wells. Michelle visits Fort Foster during bird migration season. They often stop at York River Landing and love the restaurants throughout York and Portsmouth.
Summer days remind John of his childhood in Kennebunk. Family vacations to Biddeford Pool shaped his love for southern Maine long before life brought him back.
Plan Your Visit to Bell Farm Shops
Bell Farm Shops
244 US Route 1
York, Maine
Visitors will find:
Plenty of parking
A peaceful porch with seasonal displays
A year round Christmas floor
A full bird and garden shop
A curated home and gift shop
Nectar Cafe - A family run coffee truck with baked treats
Seasonal workshops and Santa visits
Hours change seasonally, and updates are available at bellfarmshops.com.
Why Bell Farm Shops Has Become a Maine Tradition
Bell Farm Shops is a reminder of what small business can still feel like in a world that moves quickly. It is a place built on instinct, courage, and hard work. It is a place shaped by generations of families who have cared for it. It is a place where customers become friends and traditions grow naturally, because they put so much heart into creating moments worth remembering.
In a world filled with large stores and fast shipping, Bell Farm Shops offers something different. It offers heart. It offers community. It offers that feeling you get when a place becomes part of your story.
That feeling stays with you long after you leave.
BRICK+TIDES is a weekly digital magazine based in York County, Maine. We share positive and inspiring stories about local businesses, people, and places that make Southern Maine special. If you'd like to read another one next week, we'd love for you to subscribe to our free weekly email!
Miss a recent feature?
