Hands On Optics
26437 Ridge Road
(Rt. 27) Next to McDonalds
Damascus, MD 20872
http://www.handsonoptics.com/contact.html
Phone: 301-482-0000
Company Seven
http://www.companyseven.com/astroreq.html
Montpelier, MD 20709-2587
(301) 953-2000
 
Both stores have knowledgeable staff and sell a wide range of astronomy products on a showroom floor.   Though most of the products sold are for the more serious amateur, there are entry-level scopes.

In addition to the local stores, there are many Internet vendors that can set you up.

Orion Telescope
www.telescope.com <http://www.telescope.com>
Call Toll Free: 800-447-1001
24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

For those just starting out, I recommend Orion Telescopes.  I believe the products are largely imported from China and branded here, but they have a certain amount of quality control that has led to a lot of scope for the buck. 

Other sources of name brand products - sold by knowledgeable folks:

Starizona
www.starizona.com <http://www.starizona.com>
5201 N. Oracle Rd. 
Tucson, Arizona 85704   
(520) 292-5010

Astronomics
www.astronomics.com <http://www.astronomics.com>
800-422-7876

Anacortes
9973 Padilla Heights Road
Anacortes, WA 98221
www.buytelescopes.com <http://www.buytelescopes.com>
(800) 850-2001
(360) 588-9000

These guys also run Astromart.com, an Internet swap meet.  A favorite place of mine.

Also, the high volume New York camera stores seem to have great prices on brand name goods - though they may not have the depth of knowledge you'll find at other shops.  My favorite:

Adorama
www.adorama.com <http://www.adorama.com>
42 West 18th Street (Between 5th & 6th Ave.'s)
New York, NY 10011
800-223-2500
212-741-0052

This is not an exhaustive listing - there are many others that you'll discover in the amateur astronomy magazines.  Did I say magazines?
I go to work each day to kill time until I get my next issue of Sky and Telescope magazine.  The nerdish bliss I feel as I wing to to work on Metro each morning as I thumb through its pages is wonderful.  You can check this magazine out at www.skypub.com.

Other magazines include Astromomy, I'm sure its great also, I just don't happen to subscribe.  See www.astronomy.com.