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Hoffman Collectibles at 291 Bath Road in Wiscasset Monday, Feb. 23. Five months after its Waldoboro location closed, Hoffman Collectibles is open for business at its new home in Wiscasset. (Abigail Adams photo) |
By Abigail W. Adams
Five months after closing his Waldoboro store, Herman Hoffman has found a new home for Hoffman Collectibles at 291 Bath Rd. in Wiscasset. The store, which opened Friday, Feb. 20, is attempting to attract a new customer base with a revised and expanded inventory.
The inventory at Hoffman Collectibles is a smorgasbord of eclectic items that include clothes and shoes, makeup, tobacco products, figurines, dream catchers, swords, pool cues, used DVDs, and locally blown glass pipes, among other items. Hoffman will also add fishing equipment to his inventory within a month, he said.
“We’re just trying to run a good business,” Hoffman said. “We have good products.”
Hoffman Collectibles in Waldoboro closed two months after Hoffman’s arrest for aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (bath salts). According to Hoffman, he was unaware of the change in legislation that outlawed the sale of the synthetic drug.
The case against him is still pending.
Hoffman says he will never sell synthetic products again, even the synthetic marijuana products that are legal in most parts of Maine. “It is completely off our radar,” Hoffman said.
Individuals under 18 are not allowed in his new store unless accompanied by an adult – a self-imposed restriction Hoffman said he adopted to avoid future issues.
His move to Wiscasset occurred after months of searching for a new location. He responded to a for-rent sign for the commercial space at 291 Bath Rd. and signed the lease to the building Jan. 26. After obtaining tobacco and resale licenses from Wiscasset without problems, he was ready to open up shop.
Hoffman said it took about two weeks to organize his inventory and set up the store. Hoffman Collectibles officially opened for business on Feb. 20.
Hoffman said he had initially hoped to offer the adult toys he sold at his previous location, but he abandoned the pursuit due to opposition from local municipalities to what some prohibit as “adult entertainment.”
“I understand it,” Hoffman said. “The towns are trying to protect their image.” Hoffman noted, however, that a majority of his former customers for adult products came from the municipalities that were vocally opposed to adult entertainment.
He said approximately 15 people came to the store over the weekend looking for adult entertainment products. Hoffman Collectibles’ new location does, however, offer lingerie.
Hoffman said he offers some of the lowest-priced tobacco products in Wiscasset. He has an inventory of more than 100 glass pipes, including a glass pipe molded into the shape of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Hoffman said it was the Harley glass pipe that started his career as a business owner.
“My friend offered to buy it from me for twice what I paid for it,” Hoffman said. “I realized I could make money selling things.”
Hoffman buys much of his inventory from wholesalers and also bids on abandoned storage units – an experience that is nothing like the TV show, Hoffman said, but still fun.
Hoffman Collectibles is trying to draw in a new crowd at its new location by expanding its inventory to include shoes and boots, makeup, and clothes. They also have novelty items such as shot glasses, bumper magnets and stickers with pithy quotes, black-light posters, and flags.
“There’s a little bit of everything in here,” employee Michael Hoffman said. “You never know what you’re going to find.”
Herman Hoffman said his business is solvent and he is able to turn a small profit each year, although he has no illusions of becoming rich. “It’s got its headaches just like any other job,” Hoffman said, “but I enjoy doing this. Buying stuff [for the store] is like Christmas.”
Hoffman Collectibles is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
