Robert Harper Books Reopens in Hyattsville

My Dead Aunt's Books Hyattsville Robert Harper bookstore Tanglewood Works

Robert Harper Books has reopened with a new name and a new location.

Now named My Dead Aunt’s Books, the used bookstore has relocated to a space in the back of Tanglewood Works at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Gallatin Street in Hyattsville.

Harper, who has continued selling books online since shuttering his Riverdale Park location earlier this year, said the new spot has a lot more foot traffic, helping boost business even though he hasn’t yet advertised.

The store is named for Harper’s wife’s aunt, who left her a valuable set of rare occult books in her will, leading to the beginning of their book-dealing business.

Harper still sells some 12,000 rare and unusual books at higher prices online at Abe Books, keeping several thousand more popular and common books — which are harder to make money off of online due to the massive competition — for sale in the physical store.

While looking for a space along the Route 1 corridor, Harper asked Sue Older-Mondeel of Tanglewood Works for advice, and she suggested the store, which has served as an incubator for several other small businesses in Hyattsville.

My Dead Aunt’s Books will have a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, featuring book signings by Renee Brooks Catacalos, author of “The Chesapeake Table,” a guide to eating local in Maryland; Aaron Marcavitch, author of “Images of America: US Route 1 Baltimore to Washington, D.C.”; and Andra Damron, author of “Images of America: Hyattsville.”

In keeping with the mission of his previous bookstore, Harper also plans live music by the Repeat Offenderz, a cover band made up of local attorneys.

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