Local Business Spotlight: Uncharted

This Patch article is sponsored by Uncharted.

Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Meg Anderson Lavoie, Chief Merchandising Officer of Uncharted.

Patch: Tell us a bit about your business:
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Uncharted is a family-run, discovery-driven boutique with six Chicago-area stores offering curated gifts, apparel, beauty and home decor, and activations like in-store engraving and ear piercing.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: We opened our first Illinois store in Oak Brook in 2024, and within a year we had grown to six locations across the Chicago suburbs: Oak Brook, Arlington Heights, Geneva, Orland Park, Wheaton and Wilmette. Our roots go back more than 60 years, though. We're the family behind The Paper Store in New England, which began as a newspaper stand and grew into an all-in-one shop and gifting destination by always focusing on what the community needed. Uncharted is our newest chapter, and we've brought that same community-first approach to Illinois. Our goal is for every store to feel like a familiar, comfortable part of the neighborhood.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: As the daughter of our founder, I grew up in a family business. And it's still very much a family business: my father still spends time in the office, my brother, Tom, runs the company, my sisters and I lead buying, and my brothers run real estate and logistics.

Patch: What's the most common piece of advice you give to customers?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Take your time and come back often. Our assortment updates almost every week, so there's always something new to discover, and each of our stores carries something a little different. If your closest location doesn't have what you're looking for, another one nearby might. Also, don't hesitate to ask our team for help. Whether you need a birthday present, a teacher gift, a wardrobe refresh or a last-minute hostess gift, our staff genuinely loves helping people find something they'll love. And if you want a gift that's truly one of a kind, personalize it! We offer in-store engraving, so you can buy a HydroJug and have a name added the same day or engrave a loved one's name on a piece of jewelry, all in one visit.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Watching people feel at home in our stores. We're in the occasion business, so we get to be part of birthdays, holidays and all kinds of life events, but some of my favorite moments come when nothing special is happening at all. I once overheard a customer in one of our Illinois stores say they'd had so much fun they only got through half the store and were coming back the next day. That's exactly what we hope for. So many people today are dealing with digital fatigue and longing for connection to their communities and families. Creating a place where people feel connected, comfortable and inspired, and helping them find that special something they didn't know they needed is incredibly rewarding.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Uncharted is far from a chain store. We're bigger than the average boutique but crafted with the same care and dedication of one. Our stores are open, bright and calm, with carefully curated, giftable assortments and hand-picked outfits, and a warm, knowledgeable team. We carry brands people already love, like Jellycat, NeeDoh, Free People, Birkenstock, UGG, MacKenzie-Childs, Bombas, Touchland and Tree Hut, alongside brands you won't find anywhere else, like Strawflower, a line of handcrafted bags from India. In an age of AI shopping assistants and endless scrolling, we offer something that doesn't feel artificial: thoughtful, on-trend products grounded in authenticity and human connection.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business? (site URL, Facebook, Twitter, contact information, etc.)
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Find your nearest Illinois store and shop online at uncharted.com/illinois. Each of our six locations (Oak Brook, Arlington Heights, Geneva, Orland Park, Wheaton and Wilmette) has its own page with hours and details. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @unchartedstores to see what's new and tell us what you'd love to see next. Better yet, stop by and say hello. We'd love to meet you!