read's drug store was a chain of stores based in baltimore, maryland. read's drug store was founded by william read. he sold it to the nattans family in 1899. the downtown store was constructed in 1934 by smith & may, baltimore architects also responsible for the bank of america building at 10 light st. in 1929, one company slogan was "run right to reads." read's was purchased from the nattans by rite aid in 1983.