During my Portland whirlwind, I made a passing reference to Erebus to someone, and the result was a blank stare. Anyone else remember Portland’s original hippie-dippie head shop, source of patchouli oil, incense sticks, candles, those groovy and gauzy India bedspreads, beaded curtains, and, of course, pipes, clips and bongs? Whenever I walk by that building, I shake my head and grin. It’s so proper looking, so restored, refined, upscale. Hah.
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Sunshine Surplus across the street.
Yes!! I have googled it so many times to see if I can find any reference to it…..I wish I had a photo of it – I have told my daughters about it (they both have a little hippie in them!). Do you also remember the Boom Boom Shop?
I grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and I always went to Erebus to buy leather goods, posters, and rolling papers. I moved to California in the mid 70’s but I always assumed it would be there forever.
i was googling Erebus because I really want a pair of those ’70’s brown clog boots w/ ski buckles that I had in high school!! can’t find them anywhere….if any of you know of any leads, i would greatly appreciate it!
Whew – it’s 40 years ago… I hung around Erebus during its brief span. Place was owned by Herb Gideon, who moved to the Southwest (Ariz/Nev/New Mexico?). There was a feature about him a few years ago in a Portland magazine. Seem to recall his partners were a brother and sister named Kelly – Mike and Judy? Also remember an employee named Rob, who went to Woodstock and owned a beaten-up Austin-Healey Sprite. Whoever was their main buyer had amazing taste – great jackets, shirts and trousers, very esoteric for Maine.
I well remember Erebus as well as Larry reigers grand orange but the Tree Café was the most beautiful musical venue in all of Maine Herb was the Bill Graham of Maine
Yup, I remember Erebus. Always seemed a little too upscale for my hippie group back then. We were more of a holes-in-your-faded-jeans/checkerboard Vans type crowd.
How about the Hungry Hunza? Wasn’t that near Erebus. I’ve never since come close to eating as many bean/alfalfa sprouts as back then.
I was a student at UMPG (now Southern Maine) in the early 70’s. On our weekend trips to Portland, stopping in at Erebus was always a must do. The thing I remember most was that incredible aromatic scent that encompassed you as you walked through the door. It put you totally at ease, and took your mind to a different place. The racks and stacks of merchandise absorbed any and all dissonant sounds and allowed the softer refrains of whatever folky, bluesy, bluegrass music was playing swirl about and take you completely away.
Don’t remember if I ever bought anything there, except for maybe a pack of rolling papers, but leaving the store always left you so settled and at peace with the world. Erebus was always a big affirmation of the 70’s hippie culture.
I worked at Erebus in 1977. I had just moved to Portland from Lewiston where I worked for Larry Reiger at The Grand Orange, his original store. Needless to say it was a very relaxed environment to work in. I loved working upstairs where all the 70’s fashions were. It was a good time to be young and a little crazy. I was at Brian Buru a couple of weeks ago and looking across the street at the old building and explaining to a friend about my experience there. Herb and Judy also owned the building next door to Brian Buru which held a store that sold waterbeds. Any of you old timers remember a log cabin style building that held a restaurant that made the best veggie burger ever?
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