A little background

The Hunt Valley location was founded in August of 2005. "I remember reading about [the development] in the paper ... I said 'This is going to fly.' I just had a really good feeling about it," Baum says.

And he was right. With a boon from fellow anchor Wegmans, the area sees money coming in from Pennsylvania, as well as the Baltimore. As Baum points out, "with gasoline at these lovely prices," people flock to a one-stop shopping plaza like the Hunt Valley Towne Centre.

Clientele

"We get tons of families here," Baum says of the store. But that's not to say that they're limited to mom, dad and the kids. Thanks to all the shops, restaurants and entertainment options, they get readers of all ages.

Also, thanks to free Wi-Fi throughout the store, Greetings & Readings sees a lot of out-of-towners who choose to relax outside of the hotel. "It's a lot more fun than sitting in the lobby," Baum says. "It's part of the community."

And with many events scheduled throughout the month, they see many return customers for different authors and events.

Popular sections

Right off the bat, Baum mentions their impressive children's section, which takes up a large portion of the store. "It's great, because that's the future readers," Baum says. And while the kids are picking out their new favorite books, mom and dad can relax at the coffee bar, with the tykes within sight.

He also reports that general fiction, business and self-improvement are big sellers, pointing to the various business people who stop by during their lunch breaks.

Events 

"Every single weeked, we have authors, mainly on Saturdays," Baum says. The store also hosts a popular storytime twice a week.

So be on the lookout for your own favorite author, performer or fashion designer to stop through. As Baum says, there's always something new.

(Photo courtesy of Greetings & Readings Web site)