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 opening at Noble Town Center in Jenkintown, with curated gifts, apparel, beauty and home décor, plus ear piercing, bottle engraving.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
Meg Anderson Lavoie: We're brand new to the neighborhood. Our Jenkintown store opens November 16th 2026 at Noble Town Center on Old York Road, our first Uncharted in the Philadelphia area. 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 it is part of our family of more than 100 stores. We're bringing the same community-first approach to Jenkintown: we want the 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. This season, start with the Merry Market. Inspired by European holiday markets, it turns the store into a collection of festive shops within a shop, so wander it the way you would a market: the Dream Shop for cozy pajamas, the Toy Box for stocking stuffers, Festive Home for the host who loves a full house. Don't hesitate to ask our team for help, either. Whether you need a teacher gift, a wardrobe refresh or a last-minute hostess gift, our staff genuinely love helping people find something they'll love. If you want a gift that feels truly personal, make it yours: our bottle engraving services can add a name or initials right in store. And 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. Seeing someone unwrap the perfect present is only half the fun. The other half is discovering it in the first place.

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, 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. For the holidays, the whole store becomes the Merry Market, with a shop for everyone on your list: the Holiday Closet, the Jewelry Box, the Strawflower Boutique, even the Men's Shop. 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 uncharted.com/jenkintown-pa for hours, events and to shop online. We're at Noble Town Center, 905 Old York Road, Suite 200, in Jenkintown, in the same center as Barnes & Noble, Trader Joe's and Ulta Beauty. This holiday season, Santa visits on Nov.21st, Dec 5th , Dec 12th for free family photos. 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!