The Greyhound - an Indie Bookstore & Fine Arts Gallery

& Rayne's Reef - Soda Fountain & Grill

In April of 2022, I ventured to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for my cousin's bachelorette weekend in Ocean City.

I arrived in Worcester County before the rest of the bridal party, so I decided to make a pit stop in one of my favorite places (since I hadn't been there in 5 years) - Berlin, MD.

If you've ever been to Berlin, you know that it boasts that nostalgic small-town feel, the one you daydream about when thinking back to childhood or better times.

When I arrived in town, I headed to Rayne's Reef (always my first stop) for a bite.

Rayne's Reef means a lot to me because when I was younger, my grandparents would take me there when we went on vacation.

The first time, when I was just a small child, I was adamant about wanting a strawberry milkshake despite my grandfather's efforts to persuade me to branch out and try an ice cream soda.

When our drinks arrived, he had me take a sip of his strawberry ice cream soda, only to end up with my milkshake after I realized how delicious it was! So now, whenever I find myself in town, my go-to order is the bacon cheeseburger + strawberry soda... ahh, nostalgia.

During this particular visit, I struck up a conversation with a local yoga teacher who was there while her daughter and her friends enjoyed some after-school treats. I was only slightly jealous of the local kids there who got to walk to Rayne's after school and enjoy the old-time soda fountain. 

We were talking about books and who our favorite authors were. Then, she asked if I had been to the bookstore down the street - to which my reply was, "there's a bookstore here?!" 

Next thing you know, I am paying my check and heading down the street, hoping to duck into the bookstore before closing. 

The Greyhound - An Indie Bookstore and Fine Arts Gallery owned and operated by proprietors Maury & Susan Wimbrow, is a lovely establishment.

As soon as I entered, Maury greeted me and asked if it was my first time at the bookstore. I said that it was, and he then gave me a rundown of where everything was, including some information about local authors. 

If you are unfamiliar with indie bookstores - it means that it is an independent bookstore, not belonging to a larger chain or corporation.

Like many indie bookstores, The Greyhound has a great collection of inventory by local indie authors - which means the authors self-published and did not publish through a large publishing company. 

Maury, a true advocate - had a great deal of knowledge to share about the local authors and their works. He lastly highlighted his wife, Susan Ayres Wimbrow, and her book "Death is My Life."

I told him I would take a copy, to which he asked me to follow him down the hall - so that Susan may sign the book. Susan was sitting at a table in the back with two other people - I believe other staff members. She was very friendly, and we talked a bit about writing, some favorite genres and authors, and the lovely bookstore. 

I learned that they frequently host author signings and events, and Susan also told me about her book. 

Susan's mother was raped and murdered, and in her book, she talks about how this impacts a family. Susan spent over 40 years in the funeral service, and this book consists of many tales in the form of a fictionalized memoir. 

Maury recently retired from a career in real estate appraising and now spends his time at the bookstore alongside Susan. 

The couple is also very passionate about Greyhound rescue - specifically racing Greyhound rescue. Their website, which I will link below, has some good information about this, with links to rescues and resources to get involved. 

With some recommendations from Susan and Maury, I browsed a bit and found myself with a nice bag of goodies to commemorate my trip.

So, if you ever find yourself in Worcester County, whether you're headed to Ocean City, MD, or just passing through - check out Berlin.

Have a burger and strawberry ice cream soda at Rayne's Reef, then stop by The Greyhound and say hello to Susan and Maury!

Links:

The Greyhound - An Indie Bookstore & Fine Arts Gallery

Rayne's Reef - Soda Fountain & Grill

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