I had the opportunity to be part of an author reading and music event at this location, and it was such an amazing experience to be a part of! We used the back patio area, which gave us beautiful views of the expansive grounds and created such a lovely ambiance for the event. It was a really special setting. Inside, the store itself was beautifully laid out, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Everything about the experience felt thoughtfully put together, and I was genuinely happy to be an author participating in an event there. read more

It's a cute bookshop but the employees are something else. I was smiling and greeting them. The longer I was there the more uncomfortable I felt. I thought one of the employees was a customer until she started pointing out books when asked by someone else. A white girl came in looking for a book and all three employees rushed to greet and help her. Running downstairs and everything. If you're BIPOC don't come here. You're better off at Barnes & Nobles. Definitely won't be back. Sad because it was warm looking inside. Don't judge a book by its cover! Also there is a tiny Palestinian section. Just trauma porn for their patrons. read more

This bookstore has it all! It's located inside the mall and i was expecting it to be small but it really had everything i was looking for. There's a few card games that looked great and the seating! Very inviting to take a break and sample some of the books before deciding to buy all 7. The person behind the register was busy restocking some of the shelves abs that's ok when they noticed us they greeted us. Books will always be worth the price. read more

The Ivy Bookshop - Inside - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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A cute local book store located inside a 19 century house. There is also a beautiful green space or garden located behind the house. Plenty of seatings inside and outside for reading. Selecion of books are plentiful with readings available to young and old. My oldest daughter was able to locate the title she was looking for. Employees were helpful and very friendly. Plenty of parking spaces behind the store and in front of the store. read more

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Nice little bookstore with a good flow through the shelves. The staff are friendly and helpful. There's a small parking lot, plus street parking if the lot's full. read more

The Ivy Bookshop - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I'm obsessed with this bookshop. Love the smell of fresh books. We HAVE to support our local bookstores. They didn't have the book I wanted, but they ordered it for me. I got it within a week. The inside is so cute, but the real winner is their outside area, where you can eat, read, or just relax. It's huge and has so many places to sit. 10/10 recommend!! read more

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I love a bookshop. I love books. So I don't know why I hadn't visited the Ivy yet - I've lived in Baltimore for 3 years!! I visited with a friend last weekend when she was visiting Baltimore, and I was so surprised. It seems like a lot of independent bookstores are soooo small now, but the Ivy is pretty large! So well stocked, spacious, bright, .... everything a bookstore should be! The service is also great; I talked to a few of the staff about books I was looking at. And I loved how many staff recommendation cards there were around the shop! It's located in a beautiful house, has parking, and has a large yard as well. What a lovely bookshop! I'll definitely be back! read more

The Ivy Bookshop - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures but this is a sweet bookstore! Laid back but helpful staff, quaint layout, great selection and variety of books, plus outside under-house seating on nice days with a back lawn! Not easy to find at first, they are 900 feet south from their former spot (the strip mall currently containing The Corner Pantry and other stores) in an old home with porch and lawn and have ongoing author events, as well. Picked up a combo memoir prose and poetry book by a woman author, a current guidebook on New York and the latest Harper's magazine. read more

I visited this bookstore because of the wonderful reviews from friends and online and was UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED. As I was perusing the card section one of the employees who was shouting out orders, told the employee at the cash register to "watch out for the cards." Being a person of color, it was clear that in less than 5 minutes I was RACIALLY PROFILED. I've always been under the impression that bookstores, specifically independent bookstores, were a place of inquiry and acceptance -- clearly, I misunderstood. Do better, Ivy Bookshop. My recommendation: if you are a black or brown person, do not come here. read more

I love this quaint bookstore. I love that once I walked in there were diverse authors and topics. There was a table of free calendars from previous years in the front porch. Book lovers like me will love the expansive children's section. I was grabbing books for my children like Candy. Enjoy your reading at one of the many outdoor seating areas. read more

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I was very disappointed in the service I received. My credit card was charged charged Immediately, but I never received my books until I contacted them over a month later and then I received the books in a day. I really felt there was no customer service. I will not be using them again. read more

Excellent bookstore Although I haven't read much yet, I'm trying, and one of the young ladies suggested a great book to me.

Ivy Bookshop may seem smaller scale from the outside, but this shop carries books galore. I stopped in for a gift and found myself mulling around for awhile. The selection was much more than I anticipated. The shop had constant traffic while I was there, as well as people sitting and reading some books. The atmosphere was cozy and staff were pleasant. I found the selection easy to comb through as it wasn't overwhelming and the sections were plenty. I ended up purchasing a really cute children's book that I probably would not have found at a larger retailer. The uniqueness of the shop is wonderful and I'd highly recommend stopping in if you're in the market for a good read. There's plenty of parking and good eats in the same plaza. Well worth the stop! read more

Lovely bookstore, staff are friendly and the selection is decent for the size. I have ordered books there and the experience was pleasant. They have a nice kids' section, they have an outdoor garden area that's open to the public, and they host events regularly including a monthly event for kids. As a primarily SFF reader, I do wish the SFF section were a little bigger. Two words of caution: first, they are almost impossible to notice from the road since they moved from their old location at Falls and Lake to a new (bigger) location slightly further north. There is a large sign, but it is parallel to the road and at ground level, and I drove right by it *while actively looking for it* on two separate occasions. Second, they do have a parking lot, but it is pretty small. I've never not gotten a space, but I've gotten the very last one before. read more

I absolutely love this little bookshop! As a reference, my absolute favorite bookstore is Politics and Prose (in Washington DC), and this is the closest thing to that in Baltimore (that I have found). The Ivy has an excellent selection of fiction, non-fiction, and kids books. They also have a great selection of their staff recommendations, which can make the process of finding your "next read" less overwhelming. Their books are also very well organized. Also, don't let the smaller size fool it- they have a wide selection of books! Also, this is a very cozy bookstore, and the staff are very helpful and friendly. They also have a great selection of non-book stuff (cards, gifts, calendars, bags, etc). I discovered this store during COVID and think they are doing a great job with sanitizing and social distancing. They limit the number of people allowed in the store. The line can move a little slow, so make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. read more

What a nice old fashioned book store in a modern world! Great sales staff who are knowledgeable.

Super super cute! The shop has a nice garden/yard area around it, and is located inside a house painted a very pretty shade of green. They also gave me me a super cute bookmark with an illustration of the shop on it. I only saw they had tote bags with the same illustration on it after I checked out or I would have bought one of those too. read more

This is the worst bookstore if I could give a zero star I would. When I questioned the clerk he matter of factly dismissed me and said "that's life". Never back there again. Regrettably, this is why Amazon continues to dominate the market. So much for shopping local and support small businesses. read more

Beautifully curated. Something for everyone. Actually, somethingS is a better word!! Go there and expect to spend some time.

Terrific independent with great and interesting choices! Incredibly great service too. They had both the books I called about and immediately held them back for me. Shop local!!!! read more

This awesome little bookstore is great for those who still enjoy reading actual books (There's just something missing when I read on my kindle). With so few brick and mortar bookstores left, this place makes you feel as things used to be before Amazon took over. The staff are very helpful and their selection is wider than you might think from its size. I definitely recommend it to all readers. read more

This is my favorite place in Baltimore! Ambiance, culture, books. Love it. Check out the garden in the back too!

A couple of other reviewers have commented on the rather cold (lack of) greeting at the door. Unfortunately the service goes beyond that. Their customer rewards punchcard requires ten in-store "purchases of $15 or more...". I see a book I want for $12.99 and, specifically because I wanted to support an actual store rather than online shopping, I find another for $7.99. The woman at the counter refuses to punch my card, telling me that it requires a $15 purchase. I point out the obvious: my purchase is over $22. She responds by telling me that a purchase is considered one book. Really? It says purchase. Whatever. This is one of those little things that you feel kind of petty about, but they still grind. Screw that. There is a reason Amazon is so successful, and will continue to be when I continue to buy my books there. read more

I have ordered books from The Ivy on numerous occasions to send to my friend's kids. I live in a different state and found The Ivy through Indiebound, so all of my ordering has been online. Every time, I have received excellent service, prompt and friendly communication, and timely updates. I love being able to support my friend's local store from afar! read more

I walked into this bookstore last Monday and my eyes immediately glazed over. It's not a bad place at all, mind you, just so completely average it's as if some set-designer was tasked with creating a serviceable little bookstore for some daytime soap-opera or an episode of Gilmore Girls. The mystery and art sections were small but had some interesting titles. The fiction section, though - especially staff picks - looked like it had been hand-selected by Maureen Corrigan and Terry Gross or a test-audience of NPR listeners. Listless and polite contemporary literary fiction. Very few small presses, very few interesting titles that the local box-store probably doesn't have in stock, which I believe is a pretty fair litmus test for a bookstore. Two ladies at the front desk didn't acknowledge me (which is fine, just another point in the "neutral" column) but they did sound knowledgeable. I wouldn't advise avoiding this place necessarily (though I won't be back in again), just don't go in searching for some gem you've never heard of. read more

Ivy reminds me of what I love about bookstores! It's such a refreshing break from the Barnes and Nobels and Amazons that now rule the book market. I'm very glad to have a place like Ivy in Baltimore. Ivy has a great selection of books. There is a huge children's section, a respectable art section, biographies/autobiographies, travel, fiction, nonfiction, bestsellers, and everything else you may think of. The store itself is small, so having such a great selection in a smaller space is commendable. The ladies working here are pretty knowledgeable from my experience, and are more than willing to help you find what you need. If they do not have what you want, they usually can order it for you in pretty reasonable time. Keep smaller bookstores in business and show The Ivy some love! read more

Very homey intimate feel and very welcoming love the energy of the employees and found so much more than I expected definitely going back

I really enjoyed this book shop. It is quaint, the staff is friendly, and they had just what I was looking for. Great selection that covers a wide range of topics. read more

Love this independent bookstore. It has a great selection, very friendly staff, and it's as nice as can be inside. Support your local bookstores! As David Sedaris recently said, "when all the bookstores are gone, where are you going to go to the bathroom?" read more

This is a great place to buy a gift or get help picking out a new book. The staff always has great recommendations and are very patient. They have vast array of all kinds of books and ample parking outside. read more

This is one of the great independent bookstores that's left out there. In comparison to a Barnes & Noble, or the old Borders, or Politics & Prose in D.C., it isn't huge, but the selection is choice. The location here matters: it serves a geographic area that has a lot of well-educated people and passionate readers, so the book selections reflect that. I'm sure you can still get some good basic potboilers for the beach, but that isn't really what their focus is. For the things I am most interested in -- history, biography, and travel -- the selection has never disappointed me. I always find plenty of books to browse through here, and also invariably find some new, intriguing items that I hadn't previously heard of. The Ivy also runs an excellent series of author presentations; it is well worth getting on their email list for those. I probably am there at least once, and sometimes twice a month for those (they almost always have one a week, and sometimes more than one). They also frequently partner with the Pratt Library on author presentations by really big names, like Colson Whitehead. I have gotten to be familiar with some of the employees here (including Larry) and they always greet me warmly when I come in. Others seem to be more in the "I'll respect your privacy until you ask for help" mode. When you do ask for help -- which I often used to do when I was looking for Young Adult books for my children -- the staff was glad to oblige and the recommendations were always excellent. If you'd like some help when you come in, I would encourage you not to be bashful, but to just step right up to the counter and ask for it. I think you will find the staff responsive (indeed, I've never seen them bite a customer yet!). And, yes, it's true that you can get the same books for less on Amazon. I love saving money, too, but I also like having an attractive physical bookstore in which I can just stop off for a browsing break sometimes when I need to decompress -- and make some new discoveries in the process. The Ivy nourishes that need in a way a Barnes & Noble never can. I also love their speaker series, and their excellent selection of books of local interest (history and environmental, in particular). And for all those things, a few extra bucks per book is a price worth paying. read more

The Ivy is such a great independent bookshop. I am so surprised to see reviews about not being greeted, as I have found quite the opposite-extremely friendly staff who have welcomed me on entering, often even when they are busy. They have an extremely well curated selection of books, including a great kids section an outstanding section of local books/authors. Though it is in a standard shopping center, they create a warm and cozy environment. I have attended some outstanding readings they've hosted and they always have a full events calendar. In the amazon-era, it is wonderful to see an independent bookshop keeping book culture alive and well in Baltimore. They are a reminder not just of the value of independent businesses, but of building community around a love and appreciation of books. I am jealous of those who live right in their neighborhood, but it is well worth the drive to Mt Washington. read more

The Ivy Bookshop - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Hardly any customers in the store, two employees at the front, and no greeting from either of them. Two people walk in after me and they receive a warm welcome. Not once did either of the employees greet me or ask if I needed help even as I stood next to them. Bad customer service means you lose money. I'll never return. Book selection was okay and store was clean. read more

This is a nice mom and pop bookshop that is cozy and has a very good selection. They were hosting a music and poetry event and the seating was set up very well. I didn't interact with the staff since I was there for the music. After the performance I walked around and found a book I had been looking for. I like the set up and the selections. I'll be back the next time I am in that area. read more

Really enjoyed my time here with the employees today at the Ivy. They helped me find the books I was looking for, and when they didn't have a couple of them, they ordered them in store for me. We made great conversation and I felt like they truly cared about me and their customers. Wonderful people. Highly recommend! read more

What a quaint little bookstore. I did read some of the reviews after I went in and left with my purchase. We were greeted and they even said a joke with us at the end. There was several customers there too. The reason why I liked it a lot was because I found books I didn't find elsewhere unless I knew what I was looking for. I needed two kid books and I needed them to be one of a kind. I went to B&N yesterday and did not see the ones I got there. I support small businesses. read more

The Ivy Bookshop has an excellent stock of books covering a wide range of topics. If a title isn't available onsite, staff will order it. And there's even a terrific cafe (The Corner Pantry) a few doors down so you can read your new treasure over a cupa. read more

An exceptional local bookstore with superb selections of children's literature. We bought a special edition Corduroy the Bear book here and some others that made for great gifts. The staff are the epitome of courteousness, and they wrap up your gifts in perfect fashion. This is a great part of Falls Road culture in North Baltimore. read more

Wonderfully edited book shop...maybe 1,000 square feet. Just the perfect size for picking up your new reads for the month... every book on the front table was one that was on my to-do list. Attended a local author reading here recently, and it is a wonderful, inviting space to meet up and listen to the author read. The whole space is just darling. It is like the "Shop Around the Corner" for adults. Come in for a new read and then have lunch at the pantry! read more

The Ivy Bookshop is a wonderful place to spend your time and your budget on books. If you are seeking children's books, the place is top-notch. One particular staff person is so knowledgeable about children's literature, that she will steer you to books you couldn't possibly have known about if you sought to purchase from an internet site. The personal touch is so important. I marvel at her knowledge and how she can pick books that are appropriate for the individual child. It's a lovely shop. I encourage everyone to visit. If they don't have the book, they will find it for you. Also, the shop has book readings, and recently renovated to handle larger crowds for such readings. read more