NewPages Guide to
Indie Bookstores in Maryland

Creating a space where books rock, friends meet, and coffee is served. Ridiculously. Good. Coffee.

One finds the Cricket Book Shop housed in a charming building tucked away in the quiet village of Ashton since 1969. To those who have religiously returned over the years, it signifies going back to the days when shopping was an enjoyable and civilized experience. At the Cricket you will find knowledgeable and helpful sales staff anxious to offer assistance if needed. Or you may find, as have many customers, that just browsing undisturbed for an hour or two can offer as much enjoyment. So perhaps a short drive to the Cricket will restore your spirits, and you too will count yourself as a member of the ever growing family of satisfied customers. We hope to see you soon.

Located in Baltimore for over 25 years, Atomic Books has been the center of alternative and pop culture, specializing in small press, DIY publications, literary and underground comics and books, graphic arts and ephemera. We host clubs, group meetings, and other events. Eightbar, a bar serving beer and wine, is located in the back of the store.

We are a cafe-bookshop in Baltimore's Charles Village, a collaboration between Artifact Coffee and The Ivy Bookshop.

Voted Baltimore's Best Used Bookstore (City Paper, 2010). We sell new and used books. Bring your unused books in and we will give you generous store credit to buy more. Open seven days a week.

The Children's Bookstore, located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, offers a variety of books for all ages. We also host book signings.

Co_Lab Books offers a well curated selection of art, architecture, and design books, including books on city living, handmade crafts, and beautiful books for children. We also have small gifts, cards and games, all with the designer, builder or artist in mind. Gift cards are available in the store and online.

Books, CDs, lectures, health food products, spiritual products, and much more.

Independent bookstore in Fells Point, Baltimore.

The Ivy Bookshop is Baltimore's independent literary bookstore, carrying a broad range of titles with an emphasis on literary fiction (including the best in mystery and speculative fiction), current affairs, history, biography, art, poetry and children's books. Our booksellers are knowledgeable and friendly, ready to recommend based on your personal preferences. We are locally owned and have a deep interest in promoting the community and its organizations.

Located in a historic row house, the Kelmscott was the first of a number of bookstores to form Baltimore's Book Row on West 25th Street. Currently, it is the largest used and antiquarian bookstore in Baltimore and the only one with shop cats!

Normal's is an organic farm of cultural livestock. We serve a diverse community books, records and CDs, so you might find a copy of Jim Thompson's Savage Night as well as a CD by The Jelly Roll Kings. We are located in the proximity of 3 universities and have a broad scholarly stock of books, including a huge philosophy section and a very fine Greek and Roman literature section. But within this solid base spanning the history of thought you will find pockets of sweet subversion and alternate universes.

Red Emma's is a worker cooperative and a radical bookstore and a vegetarian restaurant and a space for public events.

Seller of rare books and first editions in midtown Baltimore.

We carry African cultural products including: artifacts, music, greeting cards, natural hair products, rental hall space, children and adult books, healing stones, DVDs, and much more.

The Greyhound is an indie bookstore located in historic downtown Berlin, Maryland.

We offer a full selection of Nora Roberts's titles, popular fiction, local history, jewelry, soy candles, gifts, and Organic Fair Trade coffee beverages.

BOOKPLATE is a traditional general stock used bookstore offering a wide range of books in a broad array of categories. We emphasize the local history of the Chesapeake Bay region with a strong focus of books relating to the history and literature of Maryland's Eastern Shore as well as its colonial and revolutionary heritage.

An independent bookstore located in Historic Clarksburg. We carry new and used books, children's toys, and a variety of other book related merchandise.

Located in Downtown Cumberland, Book Center has something for everyone: readers, smokers of premium cigars, Melissa and Doug toy fans, and more. Stop in and visit us!

Curious Iguana is an independent bookstore and benefit corporation located in the heart of Downtown Frederick, approximately one hour from the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan regions. A portion of sales supports global non-profits, and our customers appreciate that their support helps to make a world of difference. The Iguana's mission of 'get to know your world' is evident in our thoughtfully curated collection of books that encourages discovery and understanding.

Founded in 1989, we now stock over 20,000 titles in 45 categories. Main Street Books has the book you need or can place special orders.

Books With A Past is a used bookstore in Howard County, Maryland. The store has almost 100,000 books, so everyone is bound to find something they like—even you!

Since 2011, Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville has been an addition to the rich artistic and literary community bringing our interactive Rise+Rhyme storytelling series for kids, open mic poetry nights, author events, book club, full-restaurant and bar. Busboys and Poets Books has a local author section for showcasing the talented writers in the area. The Zinn Room named after scholar and activist Howard Zinn seats about 150.

Bonjour Books (formerly Bonjour Mama) is the Washington, DC Metro region’s French Bookstore, located in the back room of Kensington Row Bookshop. We carry more then 1500 new and used French-language titles for all ages, resources for French students, gifts for the Francophile, and much more!

Two floors of quality used, out-of-print, and unusual books. Vintage newspapers, magazines, photographs, prints, and more. Poetry and local author readings, book groups, interesting speakers, live music. 

Selling new and used books, CDs, vinyl records, and movies since 2003. Over 23,000 books in stock. General, collectible, and first editions as well as local authors and regional material. Located in downtown, historic Leonardtown, right next door to the new La Rive Breton (what used to be Café des Artistes) and across from Bank of America. Join us for special First Friday events every month.

Founded in 1991, Mystery Loves Company remains the only bookstore specializing in new and gently used mysteries from New Jersey to Florida. We also are a general independent bookstore offering new and gently used books of all types for all ages including nonfiction on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, books by local authors, and books and gifts to educate and make you smile. We welcome all mystery readers, offering helpful recommendations for new authors and titles. Frequently, we host author signings and sponsor special mystery events. Every month, we publish our email e-newsletter of events, recommendations, and new titles. You can order off our website any in-print title. We help you create mystery gift baskets with books and book related items.

Second Story Books sells used, unique, rare and antiquarian books, art, antiques, posters, CDs, DVDs, old maps, and graphics. From 50-cent paperbacks to collectible first editions of literary classics, we have something for everyone.

The Story House is a bookstore for children and teens in Montgomery County, MD. We have a location within Dawson's Market in Rockville Town Center and also a trolley bookstore that visits schools, festivals, markets, and more.

Purveyors of new and used books, literary gifts, toys, and knowledge. Two shops, both located in Howard County, MD.

Our better books (and even many of our mediocre ones) are available for viewing (and even purchasing) most business days by chance or appointment (recommended) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Other days and times may be available as well, but please inquire as far in advance as possible. 

We sell new and "lightly loved" books. We have a great selection of gifts and toys for all ages. We also have book clubs author visits and events monthly.

Baltimore's premier independent source for used and new books. We stock over 100,000 titles, 99% of which are under $10.