The logo on this bookshop’s sign shows a real aunt, pictured in her youth. Her book collection helped launch the whole store.
That’s a sweet tribute with a very memorable name attached.
She and her husband gathered books on their travels, from Ireland to Cape May. They loved mysteries and horror most of all.
I like knowing a shop’s shelves began with one couple’s suitcases.
Today the store holds over 50,000 books for sale in Maryland. Thousands more wait in a warehouse just down the street.
I can’t imagine running out of things to browse here.
Books are only part of the fun, too. Vintage clothes, records, and jewelry share the same room.
So which would you grab first: a creepy mystery, a cool record, or a vintage jacket?
The Aunt Behind the Name Was a True Book Lover
Aunt Gingie gave My Dead Aunt’s Books its unusual name and its very first shelves. She was the aunt of owner Bob Harper’s wife, and she loved to travel and collect books.
Gingie and her husband, Freddie, picked up books everywhere they went. Ireland and Cape May, New Jersey, were two of their favorite hunting grounds.
Their taste leaned toward mystery and horror. Honestly, that makes the shop’s spooky-sounding name feel even more fitting.
The store’s logo shows a picture of Gingie from her younger years. So every time you see the sign, you’re looking at the real woman who started it all.
I like how the name turns a sad fact into a warm memory. It’s a little dark, a little funny, and completely honest about its roots.
Plenty of shops pick clever names from a brainstorm list. This one came straight from family history and a pile of well-traveled paperbacks.
Next time a friend asks about the name, you’ll have the full story ready. Fair warning: it makes an excellent conversation starter at dinner.
Gingie’s original collection is now mixed into a much bigger inventory. Still, her love of reading shaped the shop’s whole spirit from day one.
A Chemistry Professor Swapped Lab Coats for Bookshelves
Bob Harper used to teach chemistry. He also believed every town should have its own bookstore, so he decided to build one.
His bookselling started online before he ever had a storefront. In March 2016, he opened a shop called Robert Harper Books in nearby Riverdale Park.
Then came the big move. My Dead Aunt’s Books opened in Hyattsville in November 2018.
The numbers since then are wild. Harper has processed more than 150,000 books, including Aunt Gingie’s collection.
He’s also sold around 100,000 titles so far. That’s a lot of books finding new homes across Maryland and beyond.
I believe that kind of steady work says plenty about a person. You don’t sort 150,000 books unless you really love them.
Think about it like a science experiment that never ends. New books arrive, get sorted, and land on shelves for the next curious reader.
A former professor running a bookstore just makes sense, too. Teaching and bookselling both come down to sharing ideas with people.
So when you browse here, you’re seeing years of patient effort. Every shelf reflects one man’s belief that towns need places to read.
Fifty Thousand Books Means You’ll Need a Game Plan
More than 50,000 books sit ready for sale at this shop. Another 20,000 to 30,000 are still waiting to be cataloged.
That’s not a typo. It’s basically a small library that lets you take things home forever.
The store focuses on used, rare, and locally published books. You’ll find a mix of newer titles and older ones on the shelves.
Here’s a smart tip for your trip. Make a short list of authors or topics before you go, so you don’t get lost for hours.
Or skip the list and wander. Some of the best finds happen when you aren’t looking for anything in particular.
Rare books add a treasure-hunt feeling to the visit. You might spot an older edition you didn’t even know existed.
Locally published books are a nice bonus too. They give you a taste of the writers and stories coming from this part of Maryland.
Bring a tote bag, just in case. With this many choices, leaving empty-handed seems pretty unlikely.
And if your arms get tired, that’s a good problem. It means you found more than you planned on.
Three Shops Share One Room, and Your Wallet Should Know
Books get some stylish roommates here. Suffragette City Vintage and Cheeky Vintage share the first-floor retail space with the bookstore.
Those two businesses sell clothing and other secondhand goods. Together, the three create a kind of co-op shopping experience.
In one visit, you can browse books, records, clothes, jewelry, and home decor. That’s a pretty efficient afternoon if you ask me.
The setup helps the shops in a clever way. Sharing a single cash register lets them stay open longer hours.
Longer hours are great news for you. More time to shop means less rushing on a busy day.
I like how this arrangement mixes different tastes under one roof. A mystery fan and a vintage fashion fan can shop side by side happily.
It’s also a smart choice for group trips. Your friend who doesn’t read much might fall for a retro jacket instead.
Plan for some extra browsing time because of all this variety. You came for a paperback, but those vintage earrings might catch your eye.
Small businesses teaming up just feels good to support. Everyone wins, especially your growing collection of cool stuff.
Records and Comics Sneak Onto the Shelves Too
Flip past the novels and you’ll hit vinyl. My Dead Aunt’s Books also sells records and comics alongside its huge book collection.
That’s welcome news for music lovers. Digging through records feels a lot like digging through old books, just with album art.
Comics bring a different kind of fun. They’re perfect for younger readers or anyone who likes stories told in pictures.
Here’s a handy idea. If you’re shopping for a gift, a used record or comic makes a unique present.
Nobody else will show up with the same thing. Secondhand finds always carry a little mystery about where they’ve been.
Families can split up and meet back later. One kid hunts comics while a parent flips through records.
I can’t imagine a better rainy-day plan. You get reading, music, and browsing all in one stop.
Keep an open mind as you look around. Sometimes the item you love most is the one you never expected to find.
Just don’t blame the store when your record shelf at home starts overflowing. That part is all on you.
An Old Department Store Found a Brand New Life
History hides in the walls of the SoHy Arts Building. That’s where you’ll find the shop at 5132 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781.
The building once worked as a department store. Later, it held offices for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Here’s a fun twist. Bob Harper himself worked in that building in the early 2000s.
Years later, he returned to open a bookstore there. That’s a full-circle moment you don’t hear about every day.
Today the building serves as a lively hub for several businesses. The bookstore has become a staple of the Hyattsville Arts District.
I like how old buildings can take on new jobs. A place that once sold department store goods now sells stories and vintage treasures.
The arts district setting suits the shop well. It’s surrounded by creative energy and a strong sense of local culture.
So when you visit, take a second to look at the building. It’s been part of this Maryland community through many different chapters.
Fitting, right? A bookstore living inside a building with its own long story.
A Secret Stash Waits Just a Block Away
Not every book fits on the sales floor. The extras live in a separate warehouse about a block away.
That warehouse sits along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. It holds the books that aren’t currently on display in the main store.
Why does this matter to you? If you don’t see a title on the shelves, it might still be nearby.
Asking is always a smart move. The shop’s stock goes deeper than what you see in the front room.
Harper also has bigger dreams for that space. He hopes to open the warehouse as an extra storefront one day.
Picture the possibilities there. More shelves, more rare finds, and more reasons to plan another trip.
For now, it works like the store’s backstage area. Books rest there until it’s their turn to shine.
The trail location adds a nice touch too. It connects the shop’s operations to a popular local path.
I believe a hidden backroom of books is every reader’s dream. Knowing it exists makes each visit feel full of possibility.
Your Couch Can Become a Shopping Trip
Live far from Hyattsville? Good news, because this shop doesn’t stop at its front door.
My Dead Aunt’s Books keeps an online inventory you can search from home. It also runs an eBay store for even more ways to shop.
Looking for brand-new books instead? The store partners with Bookshop.org so you can buy new titles and still support a local indie shop.
That’s a nice way to help a small business. Your order still sends support back to this Maryland bookstore.
Online shopping is perfect for hunting one specific book. Search the catalog and see whether it’s waiting for you.
It’s also great for gifts. You can send a special find to someone across the country.
Still, the online side doesn’t replace a real visit. Browsing in person brings surprises you’d never think to search for.
Try both and see which you like more. Many readers love searching online first, then stopping by to see everything else.
Either way, the shelves are only a few clicks or a short drive away. Your reading list just got a lot easier to fill.
Easy Hours and an Easy Entrance Make Planning Simple
Late risers, rejoice. The doors open at 11 a.m. every single day of the week.
Monday through Thursday, the shop stays open until 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays run later, until 7 p.m.
Sundays close a bit earlier, at 5 p.m. That still leaves plenty of time for a lazy weekend browse.
Getting inside is easy too. The store is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Families with little ones will appreciate the stroller access. Nobody wants to wrestle a stroller up steps while holding a stack of books.
Here’s a planning tip. Visit on a Friday or Saturday if you want the most browsing time.
Those extra evening hours are perfect after school or work. You can stop by without feeling rushed.
The shop has been part of the community for years now. It adds to the art, culture, and history of Hyattsville in its own bookish way.
So pick a day and go. Aunt Gingie’s shelves are waiting.
