A quick check of the calendar reveals that if you haven't started holiday shopping already, you're running out of time. Many of us use the online stores for the ease and convenience, but there's also still plenty of people who like to see and feel what they're buying before throwing down the cash.

The Maine Mall in South Portland, Maine, on June 21, 2019.
Townsquare Media
loading...

The Maine Mall is always packed with shoppers throughout December, and if you're planning a visit in this month, you'll see a few new places as you pass through the mall.


Carter's

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

Carter's has officially opened as part of the Maine Mall right outside of the food court next to Ulta. Carter's is a well-known purveyor of children's apparel, featuring a wide selection for newborns to toddlers. Carter's features the iconic Osh Gosh B'gosh brand along with their own popular line of Little Planet apparel.


 

Go! Calendars and Games

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

Similar to Spirit Halloween, you generally know it's the holiday season in the mall when Go! Calendars and Games opens up. The store is filled with (you guessed it) calendars and games. That includes a wide array of classic board and card games in unique versions like Super Mario Bros, Star Wars, and more. Go! also has a second kiosk in the mall features mostly just calendars and games.


 

BoxLunch

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

While the name would suggest it's a restaurant, it's definitely not. BoxLunch is an offshoot of Hot Topic, featuring a ton of licensed and unlicensed merchandise centered around Disney and other pop culture phenomena. It's not just cool tees, either. BoxLunch offers a wide selection of wallets, collectibles, home goods, and beauty items that appeal to shoppers of all ages.


 

Maine Souvenir Shop

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

The popular store from Portland's Old Port has arrived at the Maine Mall in a slightly smaller form. The Maine Souvenir Shop can be found near Best Buy and offers up all the creative and unique Maine apparel you can think of. From hats to tee to sweatshirts and beyond, if you know someone that loves Maine and wants to show it, this is a must stop.


 

Peapod Jewelry

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

A family business born out of the small town of Edgecomb, Peadpod Jewelry has opened a retail store in the Maine Mall near Bath & Body Works. Peapod specializes in customized jewelry that can immortalize important life moments or just your pure love of Maine with lighthouse or lobster designs.


 

Miniso

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

The Minoso location at the Maine Mall is bright and welcoming. It can be found near Newburt Comics. The store features a mix of stylish clothing items, toys and plushies, household items, cosmetics, and even some electronics as well. Miniso stores are also contracted to carry Disney merchandise, and the Maine Mall location has plenty of it.


 

Runa Market

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

Runa Market is a pair of kiosks located near Jordan's Furniture. Runa features a wide range of comfortable things like hats and blankets. They also feature a selection of the popular Squishmallows, which makes for a perfect holiday gift.


 

Holiday Pop-ups

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...

Over by Victoria's Secret, there's a large, designated area where holiday pop-up shops will exist every weekend until Christmas arrives. The pop-ups are designed to host smaller businesses looking to get their products in front of the holiday shopping crowds.


 

Santa's Workshop

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
loading...
A long-lasting tradition for many generations, no visit to the mall during the holidays is complete without snapping a photo with Santa. Santa's Workshop is set up near Newbury Comics, and offers reservations and walkups on your brief journey to the North Pole.

Read More: Stores That Used to Be at the Maine Mall

Here are some stores that used to exist at the Maine Mall in South Portland but now are there no longer.

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

How Many of These Iconic Mall Food Court Restaurants Do You Remember?

From retro favorites to the icons that are still serving customers today, take a walk down memory lane with our roundup of the most iconic mall food court restaurants of the '80s and '90s.

Gallery Credit: Meg Dowdy

More From Q97.9