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Independent Bookstores in Maryland

NewPages.com guide to the best Maryland indie bookstores

Independent bookstores in Maryland are sorted by City as you scroll through. If your favorite indie bookstore is missing, please contact us.

If you are the owner of an indie bookstore, you can submit a free enhanced listing for your bookstore in our Guide here.

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

  • Cricket Book Shop
  • 17800 New Hampshire Ave.
  • City: Ashton
  • Phone: (301) 774-4242
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
  • Website

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.

  • Atomic Books
  • 3616-3620 Falls Rd.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 662-4444
  • Type: Primarily new with some used books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Alternative/Political, Art, Literary
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Gifts, Magazines, Newspapers
  • Facebook
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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.

  • Bird in Hand
  • 11 E. 33rd St.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 814-0373
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Café/Food
  • Events: Author Signings, Storytime
  • Facebook
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Bird in Hand Books & Coffee is an all-day café featuring an attentively curated book selection. Come for a delicious cup of coffee or glass of wine, stay for a browsing experience that surprises.

  • The Book Escape
  • 925 S. Charles St.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 504-1902
  • Type: Primarily used with some new books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Facebook
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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.

Our mission is to put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them. Our monthly book giveaway event typically falls on the second full weekend of the month, and it alternates between Saturday and Sunday. 

Charm City Books
Co_Lab Books
  • Co_Lab Books
  • 2209 Maryland Ave.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (443) 388-9904
  • Type: Primarily new with some used books
  • Specialty: Art
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
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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.

We are so excited to open an inclusive comic shop, coffeehouse & bookstore in Southeast Baltimore, focused on stories by & for BIPOC, women & the LGBTQIAA+ community!

  • Everyone's Place
  • 1356 W North Ave
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 728-0877
  • Type: New books,
  • Specialty: General Interest, African American
  • Sidelines: Gifts
  • Facebook

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

Independent bookstore in Fells Point, Baltimore.

  • The Ivy Bookshop
  • 5928 Falls Rd.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 377-2966
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Art, Children's, Crime/Mystery, Feminist, LGBTQ+, Literary, Regional, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA
  • Sidelines: Calendars, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Puzzles, Stationery, Toys/Games
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings, Storytime
  • Facebook
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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.

  • Normal's Books & Records
  • 425 E. 31st St.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 243-6888
  • Type: Used books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Literary
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Curiosities, Magazines
  • Facebook
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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.

One of the largest book & music storefronts around, located in Federal Hill near downtown Baltimore, also selling video & board games, movies & nostalgia. Just 2 minutes off I-95 & 295, parking is easy & we’re 2 blocks from light rail and free bus routes.

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

  • Royal Books
  • 32 W. 25th St.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 366-7329
  • Type: Used books
  • Specialty: General Interest
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Seller of rare books and first editions in midtown Baltimore.

  • Snug Books
  • 4717 Harford Road, Unit 1C
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (443) 869-4022
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Literary, YA
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Puzzles, Stationery, Toys/Games
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings, Storytime
  • Facebook
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Snug Books is an independent, family owned, bookstore in Northeast Baltimore City that carries new books and gifts for all ages. Snug Books strives to be and inclusive and welcoming space to all readers. The store hosts an extensive children’s and YA section, has a large selection of genres for adult readers, and features a special selection of Spanish-language books for both children and adults. Snug Books also carries gifts, puzzles, games, cards, stationary, treats, educational items, stuffed animals, and more.

We are a brick-and-mortar book and antiques store across from Baltimore’s Penn station. Signed, leather bindings, history, literature, art, Marylandia.

Urban Reads Bookstore

Urban Reads Bookstore is your bookstore for black authors and prison authors. We also have a vegan cafe.

  • Viva Books
  • 326 N. Charles St. (Temporarily closed due to fire)
  • City: Baltimore
  • Type: Primarily used with some new books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Website
  • Wisdom Book Center
  • 5116 Liberty Heights Ave.
  • City: Baltimore
  • Phone: (410) 664-1946
  • Type: New books,
  • Specialty: African American
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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.

Wonderland Books
  • Wonderland Books
  • 7920 Norfolk Avenue
  • City: Bethesda
  • Suburb of: Washington DC
  • Phone: (202) 271-3914
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Puzzles, Stationery, Toys/Games
  • Events: Author Signings, Book Clubs, Readings, Storytime
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Wonderland Books is a general interest bookstore in the heart of Bethesda, MD. We have a thoughtfully curated selection of books for all ages, as well as cards, gifts and toys. Come in and find your next favorite book!

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

Books, gifts, toys, crafts, collectibles, and puppets for all ages! Independent bookstore; mostly children’s books and toys, best-sellers and popular YA/Adult books; literary novelty items, puzzles, puppets, and kites. Hosts story-time, puppet shows

Growing Minds Bookstore
  • Growing Minds Bookstore
  • 12 Winters Lane
  • City: Catonsville
  • Suburb of: Baltimore
  • Phone: (443) 830-3001
  • Type: New books, Used books
  • Specialty: Children's, YA
  • Sidelines: Café/Food, Coffee/Tea, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Events: Book Clubs, Storytime
  • Facebook
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Growing Minds Bookstore is a children’s bookstore that covers all ages of kids up through teens. Our used book area has books for adults too! We also carry stickers, bookmarks, candles, and other book related items.

  • Bookplate
  • 112 S. Cross St.
  • City: Chestertown
  • Phone: (410) 778-4167
  • Type: Primarily used with some new books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Art, Children's, Literary, Regional
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Curiosities, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Magazines
  • Facebook
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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.

  • The Book Center
  • 15 N. Centre St.
  • City: Cumberland
  • Phone: (301) 722-2284
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Newspapers
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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!

Flying Cloud Booksellers in Easton MD is an independent bookshop offering a curated collection of fiction and non-fiction bestsellers, biographies, literary classics, books about design, food and wine, and the natural world. Our children’s and young adult collections have been hand-selected to appeal to readers of all levels and temperaments, from the reluctant reader to the avid.

  • Wyrd Bookstore
  • 135 Mitchells Chance Road
  • City: Edgewater
  • Type: New books, Used books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Website
  • Backwater Books
  • 8156 Main St
  • City: Ellicott City
  • Phone: (410) 696-2482
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Facebook
  • Curious Iguana
  • 12 N. Market St.
  • City: Frederick
  • Phone: (301) 695-2500
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest, Children's, Literary
  • Sidelines: Greeting Cards/Postcards, Magazines
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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.

Curmudgeon Books is a community bookstore covering a variety of subjects including children’s books, fiction, science fiction, comics, audio-books, DVDs, music CDs, and vinyl records. The store’s largest section is history, both American and World, with large sections covering the Civil War and WWII. Author signings regularly happen on Saturdays and we host special events around our comics and science fiction section. Our staff are some of the best people in the world, mostly graphic artists and writers supplementing their income helping our patrons. We are a family owned bookstore here to serve our community.

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.

Selling Used, Rare & New Books in the SoHy Arts Building in Hyattsville, Maryland. Community focused.

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.

A bookstore, natural wine store, & wine bar in Ocean City, Maryland

Independent Bookstore Ocean Pines, Maryland. New and Previously Loved Books

  • Mystery Loves Company
  • 202 S. Morris St.
  • City: Oxford
  • Phone: (410) 226-0010
  • Type: Primarily new with some used books
  • Specialty: Children's, Crime/Mystery, Regional
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards
  • Events: Author Signings
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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. 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.

  • MahoganyBooks
  • 121 American Way
  • City: Oxon Hill
  • Phone: (240) 724-8003
  • Type: New books,
  • Specialty: General Interest, African American
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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.

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!

  • The Last Word
  • 8600 Foundry St
  • City: Savage
  • Phone: (443) 753-3131
  • Type: Primarily used with some new books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Gifts, Newspapers
  • Twitter
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Purveyors of new and used books, literary gifts, toys, and knowledge. Two shops, both located in Howard County, MD.

  • Park Books
  • 555 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd
  • City: Severna Park
  • Phone: (410) 449-3100
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: General Interest
  • Sidelines: Artwork, Gifts, Greeting Cards/Postcards, Newspapers
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Indie bookstore where we sell books and the discourse is free.

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. 

  • Loyalty Bookstores
  • 923 Gist Ave
  • City: Silver Spring
  • Phone: (301) 448-1830
  • Type: New books
  • Specialty: African American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+
  • Website

At Loyalty Bookstore our staff and our selection highlight the diverse voices and creatives that make our communities great.

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.

People’s Book is a full service bookstore in downtown Takoma Park, MD.

We are an independent bookstore in downtown Westminster, MD, owned by two teachers who are also sisters. We carry books and book-themed gifts for all ages.