Glyph Moving Design Services Out Of Storefront In Havre de Grace

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The business that in recent years expanded in downtown Havre de Grace is taking a new step and moving out of a storefront. While Glyph will be closing up its physical shop in the near future, the owners will continue providing their design services to the community.

Glyph's owners — former Havre de Grace city councilman Joseph Smith and George Mason University School of Art Graphic Design Director Don Starr — first set up their business on Congress Avenue in 2012. It grew in 2016, moving to a freestanding building on Saint John Street that used to be a BB&T branch.

"Our reasons for closing are many," Smith told Patch in an email Wednesday. "While we had solid growth the first four to five years, we have seen a sharp drop-off the past year."

The location and consumer habits — shopping online or not buying as many cards — may have factored into the decline in sales, he said.

But don't worry, Glyph isn't going anywhere.

"We will continue with our design business — graphic design and corporate branding (including logos)," Smith said. "We also provide web design and social media services for several local businesses."

Some clients around Havre de Grace include Amanda's Florist and Laurrapin.

Those who rely on Glyph as their go-to for greeting cards will be happy to hear this news: "We are planning to hold Glyph 'pop-ups' every once in a while for the fans of our letterpress greeting cards," Smith said.

Follow Glyph on Facebook and see its website for the latest.

Glyph has made an impression on Havre de Grace and beyond since it was founded six years ago.

Washingtonian magazine mentioned Glyph among the attractions when it put Havre de Grace on its list of Great Small Towns Near D.C., stating the business would be "at home in an artsy urban neighborhood."

The Havre de Grace Alliance called the store "one of our favorite retail shops," in sharing the news of Glyph's "going out of retail shop" sale. In 2015 and 2016, Smith helped lead the alliance, which formed to replace the Havre de Grace Main Street organization and expand its mission to promote economic development in the city.

Glyph is online at https://glyphdg.com/.

Editor's note: This article was updated to include comments from Glyph co-owner Joseph Smith.

SEE ALSO:

• Havre de Grace Studio Displays Veterans' Art
• HdG Studio in the Spotlight at Wedding Show
• Havre de Grace Business Owners Among Maryland's First Same-Sex Marriages
• Havre de Grace Makes 'Great Small Towns' List

Image via Google street view.