Look, if you’re playing Stardew Valley, you’re going to spend a massive chunk of your life at the Robin Stardew Valley shop. It’s just how the game works. Whether you're trying to turn your tiny cabin into a mansion or you’ve realized you have nowhere to put those five hundred pumpkins, you have to hike up to the mountains. Robin isn't just a carpenter; she's the literal backbone of your farm's progression. Without her, you’re basically just sleeping in a shed with a leaky roof.
Honestly, the shop is more than just a place to buy wood. It's the Carpenter's Shop, located in the north part of Pelican Town, and it’s open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM most days. But there’s a catch. Robin takes Tuesdays off to go exercise at Caroline’s house. If you show up on a Tuesday afternoon expecting to buy a coop, you’re going to be staring at an empty counter while she does aerobics. It’s frustrating, but it’s her life.
What Can You Actually Get at the Carpenter's Shop?
Basically, the shop serves two main purposes: buying raw materials and commissioning buildings. If you’re short on wood or stone, you can buy them here, but be warned that the prices hike up significantly starting in Year 2. In the first year, wood is 10g and stone is 20g. After that? It jumps to 50g for wood and 100g for stone. It’s a steep increase. If you’re planning a massive project, buy your materials in the first winter. You’ll save a fortune.
But the real meat of the Robin Stardew Valley shop is the construction menu. This is where you get your Coops, Barns, Silos, and Sheds. You don't just pay gold; you need the materials in your inventory.
The Silo Strategy
Most new players make the mistake of buying a Coop first. Don’t do that. Build a Silo first. It only costs 100g, 100 Stone, 10 Clay, and 5 Copper Bars. Why? Because once you have a Silo, every time you cut grass with your scythe, it turns into hay. If you build the Coop first, you have to buy hay from Marnie, which is a total gold sink early on. Get the Silo. Thank me later.
House Upgrades and Renovations
Robin also handles your living space. The first house upgrade costs 10,000g and 450 Wood, adding a kitchen so you can actually cook all that fish you’ve been catching. The second upgrade adds a nursery and two extra rooms for 50,000g and 150 Hardwood.
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Interestingly, after you’ve fully upgraded the house, Robin offers "Renovations" for free. You can add a room, remove a wall, or expand the corner room without spending a dime. It’s one of the few things in the game that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
The Furniture Catalog: Is It Worth the Price?
At some point, you'll see the Furniture Catalogue for sale at the Robin Stardew Valley shop for 30,000g. It seems like a lot of money, especially when you’re still trying to buy seeds for spring. But honestly? It's the best investment for anyone who cares about aesthetics. Once you buy it, you have unlimited access to almost every piece of furniture in the game for zero cost.
You can redecorate your entire house five times a day if you want. It includes tables, chairs, rugs, and lamps. It does not, however, include the specialized items you get from festivals or the traveling merchant.
Dealing with Robin’s Schedule and Quests
Robin is a busy person. Aside from her shop duties, she’s involved in several key quests. You’ve probably seen the "Robin's Lost Axe" quest early in the game. It’s sitting near the Sewer pipe in the Cindersap Forest. Returning it gives you a friendship boost and some gold.
Then there’s the "Resource Rush" special order from the board in front of Lewis's house. She’ll ask for 1,000 pieces of Wood or Stone in a week. It sounds daunting, but the reward is a Stone Chest recipe, which is way more stylish than the wooden ones.
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When the Shop is Closed
The shop is closed on Tuesdays for exercise, and it closes early at 4:00 PM on Fridays because she goes to the Saloon. Also, on the 18th of Summer, she has an appointment at Harvey’s Clinic. If you’re planning a big build, check the calendar. Nothing hurts more than having all the materials for a Deluxe Barn and finding the door locked.
Advanced Building Tips for Seasoned Farmers
When you're deep into Year 3 or 4, the Robin Stardew Valley shop becomes a hub for massive infrastructure. You'll be looking at the Big Shed and the Deluxe Barn.
- The Big Shed: It has the same footprint as a regular shed but double the interior space. This is the "kinda" mandatory upgrade for anyone running a keg empire. You can fit 137 kegs inside a Big Shed if you optimize the layout.
- The Mill: Often overlooked. It requires 2,500g, 50 Stone, 150 Wood, and 4 Cloth. It lets you turn Wheat into Flour and Beets into Sugar. Is it a huge money maker? Not really. Is it satisfying to have? Absolutely.
- The Well: Just don't. It's a waste of 1,000g and 75 Stone. You have a pond on your farm, and eventually, you'll have sprinklers. The Well is purely for decoration.
Moving and Demolishing
A lot of people forget that Robin can move your buildings instantly. You don't have to wait three days for her to relocate a Coop. You just go to her shop, select the "Construct Farm Buildings" menu, and click the "Move Buildings" icon. It’s free and happens immediately. If you mess up your farm layout, she can fix it in five minutes.
The Community Upgrade
Once your house is fully upgraded and the Community Center (or Joja Warehouse) is finished, Robin offers a "Community Upgrade" for 500,000g and 950 Wood. This is a massive late-game goal. It builds a house for Pam and Penny, replacing their trailer with a real home. It doesn't give you any mechanical advantage, but it’s a nice thing to do for your neighbors. After that, she offers another upgrade to build shortcuts around the map, making it much faster to get from the mountains to the beach.
Common Misconceptions About Robin
Some players think you need to be friends with Robin to get better prices. Nope. Prices are fixed by the game year, not friendship. However, getting to 6 hearts with her triggers a cutscene where she gives you the recipe for the Drum Block and Flute Block. If you're into making music on your farm, those are essential.
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Another weird detail: Robin is married to Demetrius. If you're looking for her in the evenings and she’s not at the Saloon, she’s usually at home in the mountain cottage. Sometimes she stands by the cliffside, just staring out at the valley. It’s a nice touch that makes her feel like a real person rather than just a shop interface.
The Hardwood Problem
If you're eyeing that second house upgrade, you need 150 Hardwood. You can't buy this at the Robin Stardew Valley shop. You have to go to the Secret Woods every day and chop the stumps. It takes about 13 days of clearing the woods to get enough. Don't wait until you have the 50,000g to start collecting it. Start now.
Actionable Steps for Your Farm
To make the most of the carpenter's services, follow this progression:
- Build a Silo immediately. Do this before you even think about animals. Clear just enough grass to get the materials, but save the rest of the grass for after the Silo is finished.
- Stockpile Wood and Stone in Year 1. Spend your extra gold on raw materials from Robin before the Winter ends. On Spring 1, Year 2, those prices quintuple.
- Upgrade your house once. Getting the kitchen is vital for stamina management because you can start making Sashimi (if you’re friends with Linus) or Fried Eggs.
- Buy the Furniture Catalogue only after you have a steady stream of income (around 5,000g per day). It's a luxury, not a necessity.
- Use the "Move Building" tool to organize your farm during the Winter. Since crops aren't growing, it’s the perfect time to visualize your endgame layout.
- Check the Calendar. Always verify it isn't Tuesday or a festival day before trekking up the mountain.
Robin’s shop is the gateway to the "mid-game." Once you move past simple farming and start building specialized structures, the game opens up. Just remember to bring your materials and keep an eye on the clock. She won't wait for you if it's 5:01 PM.