For more than three decades, Dawn Wilson and her family have helped preserve Severna Park and Pasadena’s most meaningful moments
When Dawn Wilson talks about Side Street Framers, it’s clear the business is more than a frame shop – it’s a family story, a creative journey, and a place where memories are carefully preserved.
Side Street Framers first opened its doors on April 4, 1989, in Severna Park. The idea came from Wilson’s mother, Barbara Daniels, who approached Dawn and her sisters – Sandy Monck and Donna Phillips – around the time they were graduating from college. “We were always creative people,” Wilson said. “When my mom came to us with the idea to open a frame shop, I thought it suited us well.”
At the time, Wilson was fresh out of Towson University with a degree in fine art and a clear sense that she wanted to build a life in the art world. While the shop began as part of a franchise, the family soon decided to branch out on their own. “We had our own thoughts on how things should run,” Wilson said, which led to the creation of the name Side Street Framers – a simple, distinctive name that felt right for the business they wanted to build.
Those early days were filled with learning curves and unexpected challenges. “We didn’t really know what to expect,” Wilson said. “A lot of it was learning as you go.” Some of the very first projects were anything but ordinary, including a Babe Ruth baseball that needed to be preserved and a massive peacock feather fan that required a completely custom approach. “When you go to school for framing, there’s no way they can tell you how to custom frame everything,” she said. “People bring in all kinds of interesting things.”
Over the years, Side Street Framers has evolved far beyond traditional custom framing. While framing remains the heart of the business, the shop now offers canvas, photo, and frame restoration, elaborate shadow boxes, and highly specialized projects that often feel more like engineering than décor. “We don’t say no to any project that people bring in,” Wilson said. One standout piece involved international currency folded into origami and suspended in a shadow box with layers of museum-quality glass, creating the illusion that the artwork was floating in midair.
Another major turning point came about 20 years ago, when Wilson briefly stepped away from the business. Inspired by her son’s pottery classes, she realized how beautifully handcrafted art could complement custom framing. “Why don’t we sell pottery and other handcrafted art?” she remembered thinking. That decision reshaped the store, leading to a curated selection of pottery, jewelry, glass art, candles, soaps, paper art, chocolates, and seasonal items – many made by local and regional artists.
Today, Side Street Framers remains proudly family owned and operated. Barbara Daniels still comes in once a week, Donna works at the Pasadena location, and Sandy helps as needed. Wilson’s daughter joined the team several years ago, continuing the multi-generational legacy. In total, the business employs 10 staff members across two locations.
The Pasadena shop opened two years ago, born out of both necessity and opportunity. “We needed more room and more framing capacity, and we didn’t want to move the original store,” Wilson explained. When a longtime framer in Pasadena was ready to retire, the timing aligned perfectly. The result was a seamless transition that added space, talent, and a second community presence – one that Wilson says has been embraced warmly.
Customers now come from all over, many returning even after they’ve moved away. “We have people who have been coming here since 1989,” Wilson said. “And we’re busier than ever.” The clientele spans generations, united by a shared appreciation for quality craftsmanship.
That craftsmanship is what Wilson believes truly sets Side Street Framers apart. Custom framing, she explained, is a deeply specialized art. “You’re designing the framing for that art piece,” she said. “The design, the colors, the size, the depth – it all makes a massive difference.” Using archival materials and UV-protected glass, the team treats every piece as irreplaceable. “The goal is for it to last for many years to come.”
Compared to big-box stores or online framing services, Wilson says the difference is experience and care. “When you come in here, you’re working with someone who has decades of design expertise,” she said. “We know what’s going to look right, and we know how to make it work within your budget.” Attention to detail is non-negotiable. “We’re very persnickety about what goes out,” Wilson added. “We want people to be thrilled when they see it.”
Looking ahead, the future feels wide open. The family has already launched a new venture, Side Street Staging & Home Design, blending their design sensibility with real estate and home styling. Classes and workshops – ranging from journaling to meditation – are also returning in the coming months, further strengthening the shop’s role as a creative hub.
For Wilson, what’s most exciting is the potential. “Honestly, I feel like we could just keep expanding,” she said.
More than 35 years after opening day, Side Street Framers continues to do what it has always done best – honor creativity, preserve memories, and make art look like “a million bucks,” one carefully designed frame at a time. Side Street Framers welcomes customers at its Severna Park location inside Park Plaza at 558 Ritchie Highway, Suite B, as well as its newer Pasadena shop at 8220 Ritchie Highway. For hours and events, visit their website and Facebook page.
