Greetings & Readings
title: "Greetings & Readings" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["independent-bookstores-of-the-united-states", "bookstores-in-maryland", "companies-based-in-baltimore"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greetings_&_Readings" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley |
| logo | Wiki gr logo.gif |
| type | Family business |
| foundation | Hunt Valley, Maryland, U.S. |
| location_city | 118-AA Shawan Rd |
| Hunt Valley, MD | |
| location_country | U.S. |
| key_people | Steven Baum, President |
| Stephen Spund, Vice-President | |
| num_employees | 90 (2018) |
| industry | Retail (Specialty) |
| homepage | http://www.greetingsandreadings.com |
| :: |
| name = Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley | logo = Wiki gr logo.gif | type = Family business | foundation = Hunt Valley, Maryland, U.S. | location_city = 118-AA Shawan Rd Hunt Valley, MD | location_country = U.S. | key_people = Steven Baum, President Stephen Spund, Vice-President | num_employees = 90 (2018) | industry = Retail (Specialty) | homepage = http://www.greetingsandreadings.com
Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley was the largest independent bookstore in Baltimore and was a member of the American Booksellers Association. The store occupied 30000 sqft of retail and warehouse space on the second floor of the main Hunt Valley Towne Centre plaza, the final northbound destination of the Baltimore Light Rail, before closing in January 2019.
History
Phyllis and Norton Baum founded the original Greetings & Readings in 1969 as a book and card shop occupying 1800 sqft.
For 35 years, the store was located in Towson, Maryland, in the Loch Raven Plaza. After its closure, a new store was opened by Phyllis and Norton's son, Steven Baum; his wife Fran; his brother-in-law Stephen Spund and Spund's wife Amy. Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley opened in August 2005 in the newly rebuilt Hunt Valley Towne Centre with a 30000 sqft, second floor location along the plaza's Main Street.
Greetings & Readings was named one of the coolest businesses in Baltimore by Expert Market US.
In January, 2010, wedding technology company WeddingWire, selected Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for excellence in custom printing and personalized wedding invitation design. The invitation department was closed in 2018 to make room for expanding card and baby gift departments. The store hosted frequent book signings and other events including kids' story time readings.
The store closed in January 2019, citing a drop in sales and customers lost to online booksellers.
Community involvement
Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley supported the efforts of the non-profit organization Literacy Works, Inc. which promotes increased literacy for adults in the Baltimore area. The store also partnered with the HELPS (Health Educators Linking Parents and Students) Coalition and sponsored the Hunt Valley Kids Club, which began in May 2007.
From 2013, Greetings & Readings of Hunt Valley partnered with Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library as the on-site bookseller for some of the library's public and private author events.
References
References
- Knight, Nancy. "Greetings & Readings". [[Baltimore Sun]].
- "ABA Bookseller Member Directory". [[American Booksellers Association]].
- (27 December 2018). "Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley to close after 49 years". www.bizjournals.com.
- Schwartz, Nomi. "Greetings & Readings: Books Plus an Array of Specialty Merchandise". [[American Booksellers Association]].
- (27 December 2018). "Greetings & Readings closing after 49 years". WBALTV-11.
- (27 December 2018). "Bookstore Greetings & Readings To Close". WBAL.
- Horrocks, Michael. "Coolest Businesses in Baltimore". Expert Market US.
- "Hunt Valley printing team named wedding industry leader". Greetings & Readings.
- Serpick, Bev Fine. "Successful Book Bash helps boost literacy services". Community Times.
- "Hunt Valley Towne Centre Announces Monthly "Kids Club Days," Beginning May 5". [[Hunt Valley Town Centre.
- "Writers LIVE! at the Central Library". [[Enoch Pratt Free Library]].
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