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, TPS Group Holdings.

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Patch: Tell us a bit about your business or organization:
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Uncharted is a family-run, discovery-driven boutique with stores in Columbia and Annapolis, offering curated gifts, apparel, beauty and home décor, plus free embroidery and ear piercing.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: We're new to Maryland. Our Annapolis store at Festival at Riva and our Columbia store at Dobbin Station both opened in April 2026, our first two locations in the state. Our roots go back more than 60 years, though. In 1964 my father, Bob Anderson, bought a small newsstand in Maynard, Massachusetts, and by always focusing on what the community needed, it grew into The Paper Store, a much-loved New England brand. 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. Uncharted is our newest chapter. The first one opened in Oak Brook, Illinois, in November 2024, and today we have 16 Uncharted stores among our 105 locations in 11 states. We've brought that same community-first approach to Maryland: we want each store to feel like a familiar part of the neighborhood, a place people visit when something is happening in their lives, and when nothing is.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you're in, and how did you get started?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: My father started our business as a newspaper stand, and today all five of his kids work in it. Growing up in retail, I created Uncharted to feel familiar and comforting, yet stylish and connected.

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 changes almost every week, so there's always something new to discover, and Columbia and Annapolis each carry something a little different. If one store doesn't have what you're looking for, the other might. Don't hesitate to ask our team for help, either. Whether you need a birthday present, a teacher gift, a wardrobe refresh or a last-minute hostess gift, our staff genuinely love helping people find something they'll love. And if you want a gift that feels truly personal, make it yours. If you're marking a milestone, our ear piercing has become a special moment for a lot of families, whether it's a child's first piercing or friends getting matching studs.

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 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. We actually want to meet you. 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. And the holidays are the best of it. Holiday is our Super Bowl.

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 as one. Our stores are open, bright and calm, with carefully curated table displays, giftable assortments and hand-picked outfits, and a warm, knowledgeable team. We carry brands people already love, like Free People, Birkenstock, UGG, Owala, Stanley, Bogg Bag, NeeDoh, Bombas, Touchland and Tree Hut, alongside brands you won't find anywhere else, like Strawflower, our own line of handcrafted, block-printed bags from Jaipur, India. Our collections are updated almost every week, and we offer ear piercing in store. This holiday season, Santa will be at both stores on three Saturdays for photos. 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. We're not just curating products, we're curating a feeling.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your business?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: Visit us at uncharted.com/columbia-md and uncharted.com/annapolis-md for hours, details and to shop online. In Columbia, we're at Dobbin Station, 6181 Old Dobbin Lane, just off Route 175 at Dobbin Road, in the same center as Petco and CAVA. In Annapolis, we're at Festival at Riva, 2325 Forest Drive, at the corner of Forest Drive and Riva Road, in the former Party City spot. Both stores are open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 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!