Wordman Used Books

Specialties

A hidden gem for all book lovers! This small shop in St. Leonard, southern MD, is located in the back lot of the Chesapeake Marketplace. This little house is filled floor to ceiling with thousands of books of almost every subject. All books are divided up into different categories. Just ask for the owner who runs the business, Marianne Markham. She’ll show you around, and tell you the affordable prices, which are cheaper than most places to buy books in Maryland. First time customers who visit will be in for a surprise! Aside from books, Marianne also sells movies, games, music on CD, and garden statues. (During the spring and summer, perennial plants are sold, including hostas and strawberry plants!)

History

Established in 1992.

This business’s very origin started when Thomas Markham, at the age of 5, developed a love for books. For years throughout his life, he had been collecting them.

The business name came from a time when Thomas had written and shared two complete children’s stories. Wordman was the name of a character in them.

Before the Markham family decided on a space of their own outside in the Chesapeake Marketplace, they had a small space in the Main Building for the first few years they were open. By then, Thomas had started to make the garden statues, with the help of some trustworthy friends.

Thomas and his wife Linda’s daughter, Marianne, had taken over the business soon after she graduated from high school in 2002. All the other specialties sold in the shop was recently introduced in 2014 as means to diversify a little.

Meet the Business Owner

Marianne M.

Business Owner

Marianne reads books on and off. She may not have read *every* book in the store, but there are a certain handful of authors and subjects she likes. She works hard to maintain her customer base and is an all-​around kind person, always there to help anyone find what authors or subjects they’re interested in.

Marianne’s into writing and making her own music in her spare time. Once in a while she does a bit of art (sketching, or computer art). She’s a YouTube junkie, likes good prime time TV, has seen many movies, and is a big time gamer. Board games are what she loves most of all. Her mother and herself have been part of a group of people that get together to play a variety of them every other Friday night. On the Friday nights, opening later on into the evening until 8:30pm, they play board games. You’re welcome to join them if you want!