On my last visit to Camden, I noticed that Colony had closed. I believe the owner has retired. I wish him a long, healthy and, above all, happy retirement. read more

The owners are exceptionally rude people - abrupt and intolerant. The store itself is disheveled, the goods are tacky, and a no-refund policy dooms customers to live with their unfortunate purchases. I am shocked that this business has survived. The owners would do Camden a favor by selling up and shipping out. read more

~ ~ The second time I went into this store, I politely asked how much the earrings where. The owner replied crankily/Sarcastically with, "if you had the energy to maybe you could flip it over. It's not that hard. I think you could swing it." How rude. read more

we had a terrible experience stepping into this shop. The nasty old man yeld at my daughter for taking pictures of his postcards and told her to get out my store! I was very offended and immedietly tried to return my purchase. He and his wife (or the lady next to him) refused to take the purchase back and they actually took my purchase that I'd paid for and they tried to put it back on the shelf and told me we won't give your money back. This was the worst shopping experience I've ever had in my life. I told them there is nothing wrong with my purchase but there is definately something wrong with you! and I told them I will make a complaint about you. I can't believe this man is allowed to run this store with his terrible behaivor towards Camden tourists. The town of camden needs to do something about his abusive behaivor!!! read more

The owner locked everyone in the store because he was angry that someone in the back didn't put the the post cards back in order. He locked us in his store using his shop key then proceeded to ask us where we put the items we had looked at. The lady working behind the counter had already rang up my purchase or I would never of bought anything from this crazy place. This guy was angry and yelling at everyone and telling the lady working the register that he should "close the shop for the day". She replied, "that's fine with me".After we were rang up he finally unlocked the door and let us out. (He told the husband waiting outside for his wife that he could come right in now!) I would never go back! What a horrible experience to have in such in quaint town. read more

Truly enjoyed our time in Camden, but truth is in the yelping....not good for business is a cranky old man yelling at customers. Was highly distracted and had to leave. Support the wonderful, cheerful lady two doors down. read more

My family and I stopped in this store while in Camden and had a very interesting experience. I noticed almost immediately that the owner was following my children and I around. I reminded my children not to touch the toys because I could see that the owner was agitated. My son decided he wanted a plastic lobster so he was holding onto it around the store. As we approached the counter to pay I heard the owner run up to the cashier and ask "how many lobsters have we sold?!". He then noticed my son standing there and said "oh there it is". Clearly he thought that my 3 year old son had stole it. I should have left then but decided to pay anyways. When I left the store my brother came up to me pretty angry. He explained to me that he was in the store and picked up a hat and looked at it. He put the hat back in exactly the same spot and the owner came up behind him angrily saying "What an idiot why would he put the hat back there". If this guy wasn't such a lunatic I probably would be angry. However, you can clearly tell that there is something wrong with this guy. Being treated like criminals after doing absolutely nothing was so outrageous that it actually gave us all a good laugh. The guy needs help! read more

The store owner is RUDE! My family and I went in to shop. Several of us had items in hand to buy. My brother-in-law pulled out his phone and the store owner said, "No pictures." My brother-in-law apologized saying he didn't know (none of us did.) The owner said in a snarky tone, "The signs are all over the store." He kept making rude remarks. So, we put our stuff back and left. read more

I am shocked that this shop stays in business. I have NEVER been treated more poorly by a proprietor in my entire life. We didn't read his sign regarding "no photography allowed". Instead of kindly pointing out our mistake, he caused a ridiculous scene...yelling and grabbing the merchandise one of my friends planned to purchase out of her hands. His employees appeared to be embarrassed by his crazy behavior, and the only other patrons there left in disgust. I visit Camden often, but I won't step into The Colony again. read more

I visited this shop a year ago and they had really great, reasonably priced light houses. However, I didn't get one. We went back this year so I could only I will NEVER go in that store again. My mom, my two sisters and I went in and I instantly got a dirty look from the store owner who I made a point to say hi to and was ignored. We looked at the light houses and some of their clothes and then out of no where start getting yelled out. My mom was eating m&ms which apparently really offended him. He has a sign out front that says no food, but we couldn't even see it because it was turned the wrong way. So he said "go eat your food and touch the clothes in someone else's store". Now, some of Camdens shops won't allow food and drink, totally fine, I get it. However, if you don't see the sign, they just politely ask you to leave it at their counter until your done not yell at you from across the store. So, I was sure to tell him that this was the second time in his store and we planned on coming back every year for the little knickknacks, however I won't be back now and he told us "I lose more customers from food on the clothing because of stupid people like you who can't read a sign!" First off, you're losing customers because you're an old, tourist-hating jerk, just check out the other reviews! All of the shops have basically the same things- SOEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE. read more

Went in the store today to browse and saw the no pictures sign. I got a text message so I took my phone out to check it and a extremely nasty old man behind the counter assumed I was taking a picture and yelled at me. Never buying anything from that store because of that. 0/10 would recommend! read more

What an incredibly cranky and rude old man behind the counter at The Colony in Camden, Maine! I've never posted a review on Yelp before, but have also never been treated with the disrespect recently encountered while shopping in The Colony. I travel to Maine a couple of times a year and make it a point to go to Camden whenever I can as I love shopping in the quaint little shops there. I have always been met with very friendly employees and business owners. Apparently, this guy at The Colony doesn't realize tourists are what keep him in business. This tourist will take her business elsewhere as I'm sure I can find another shop with the same items who is more than willing to take my money! It's just unfortunate this cranky old guy is tarnishing the reputation of such an awesome little place like Camden! read more

found it very interesting to read the other reviews about "The Colony" on 15th Main Street in Camden Maine - all said pretty much the same thing, the establishment is run by a grumpy old man, who I shall nickname Boris and his wife, associate, who I shall nickname Natasha. We entered this nice little, well organized gift shop and children store in search of small trinkets. After selecting a few very nice items we proceeded to Natasha's perch in front of the bank of surveillance monitors, you might think we were in Fort Knox, to pay for our over priced items, but what the heck we are on vacation. Stone faced Natasha very nicely itemized all the items on a hand written receipt, you might think with all the surveillance equipment their receipt process would be 21st century, and packaged up our items. After paying for the items, my wife and I walked out of the store. Then all of a sudden we heard Boris yelling at our niece because her children were touching the merchandise and he was really pitching a fit because her daughter had taken an apron off the hanger and tried it on. Boris, the grumpy old man, continued to rant and rave about her generation having no respect and should be raised better. Hearing all this my wife and I went back into the store and he starts in on us, that we should be have raise the children better. My wife proceeds to inform Boris that they are not our responsibility. At this point I decided to return the items, but Natasha just pointed at a sign in front of the register which said no exchanges or returns. In short the rude couple who run "The Colony" are in the wrong business. As one of the other posts said, if you like a little entertainment, and are in the area stop by "The Colony" to see the grumpy old man rant and rave at perspective customers and push business right out of the door, what a way to run a business. They are not doing the quaint little town Camden any favors. read more