One of the newest additions to the Annapolis Mall is a bookstore that isn’t new…and has a lot more than just books. Curmudgeon Books (don’t worry, they’re friendly) lived in Marley Station Mall for years, and its recent move to Parole didn’t leave behind any of its charm. The new location—conveniently right across from the children’s play area—has the essentials: books, music, movies, and games. And plenty of comfy seats.
Read on to learn more about what Curmudgeon Books offers.
Know Before You Go
Address: Annapolis Mall, 2002 Annapolis Mall Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401
Location: The closest parking is the garage near the Tesla dealership. The address for your GPS is 2367 Annapolis Mall Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Inside the mall, you’ll want to go straight, past the Slime Co. storefront.
Hours: Same hours as the mall. Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Friday to Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM. Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM.
Great Books at Even Better Prices
The bookstore has several comfortable loveseats for relaxing and reading with your kids.
If you love older books, Curmudgeon’s antiquarian selection will look great on your shelves.
They have a great selection of classic literature.
Books by local authors sit near the front, along with new titles.
Curmudgeon’s shop is clean, bright, and has clear labels to make perusing easy. They have an extensive collection of classic literature, lots of nonfiction titles, vintage comics, and works by local authors. Most are pre-loved books, but Curmudgeon knows its patrons well enough to offer some new releases, too (I saw Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, for you romantasy lovers). You can grab some of their antiquarian books if you’re going for more of a dark academia aesthetic for your shelves.
We love supporting authors and bookstores, but we also love saving money. The majority of Curmudgeon’s books are used, so that sticker price on the back is not going to shock you. At single-digit prices, you’ll have a tall stack of books to carry to the register. Don’t forget a big, reusable bag!
A Cozy Kid’s Section
Little kids are going to love the crocodile bookcase directly inside the store. There are shelves with picture books, early reader books, chapter books, YA, graphic novels, and more. There are several loveseats that are the perfect size for parents to read to their little ones while snuggled up together. Or—like my eight-year-old did during our visit—kids can relax and read with a huge pile of books next to them. There are also a couple of bean bag seats tucked away behind some shelves. Any young reader can disappear into their stories here.
Games, Puzzles, and More
This shop is yet another great place to buy vinyl records in Annapolis.
There are lots of DVDs at Curmudgeon for all movie and physical-media lovers.
Curmudgeon has board games, role-playing games, and more to play.
Audiobooks and books on tape are available…because audiobooks do count as reading!
CDs are making a comeback, including at Curmudgeon Books.
They have puzzles and greeting cards to buy, if you’re looking for gift ideas.
Books aren’t the only sources of entertainment. There are jigsaw puzzles, board games (including chess), and role-playing games. And for your ears as well as your eyes, they have vinyl records, CDs, audiobooks (or, as we used to call them, books on tape), and movies.
And don’t forget all the greeting cards, coloring books, and notebooks. I, for one, have a hard time resisting a new journal. There are packs of crayons for your kids to express their artistic side. And there are some jars of jam and jugs of cider!
Sell, Trade, Buy More
If you’d like to get a little cash in your pocket, earn some store credit, or trade something old for something new, visit Curmudgeon on Sundays from 1 to 5 PM. They’re always happy to accept children’s books, CDs, and vinyl records in particular. But they don’t accept magazines, puzzles, games, or stuffed animals. They are not a nonprofit, but they will accept donations of items during all opening hours.
Whether or not they take an item and how much they offer will be up to the proprietor. But, as I mentioned, the prices are so good that a little bit of store credit goes a long way. Go ahead and turn that money right back around to pick up some new reads.
Curmudgeon Books is still settling into its new location. But moving forward, you can expect more events and collaborations. Soon your little one will want to stop in during every family trip to the mall. So don’t worry about the old curmudgeon on the sign. As they say on their website, “[W]e hope you’ll leave feeling like a part of our family too.”
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