Past Neighborhood Narrative

Past Neighborhood Narratives: 2013-2023

April 11, 2023

Deluca’s Market

Our mission is to offer our neighbors the best possible shopping experience. That means being a community staple for people, whether they are passing by on the way to The Public Gardens, or prepping for an at-home meal.

Above all, we want our friends and neighbors to feel welcome in the store, satisfied with our products, and at peace with the store’s impact on the local community and environment at large.

Website: http://www.delucasmarket.com/

Locations:

11 Charles Street, Boston MA 02114 | (617) 523-4343
239 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02116 | (617) 262-5990

March 14, 2023

J. Grady Home

J. Grady Home is a full-service interior design firm along with a curated décor, furnishings, and accessories store. We believe that good design should be inspired, elegant and timeless. With decades of experience in residential interior design, our staff is committed to creating vibrant homes for our clients that are beautiful as well as livable. Our store is an open invitation to the community to meet us and experience a small representation of the colors, look, style and things that we enjoy!

Website: https://www.jgradyhome.com/

Locations:

J. Grady Home – Beacon Hill
133 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
857.277.1133

J. Grady Home – Annisquam
34 Leonard Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978.515.7522

February 14, 2023

B Nutritious
B Nutritious is built on the simple concept that eating healthy should be easy and taste great. We believe nutritious food is the key to changing your life for the better. Order takeout or get our prepared meals right to your door with just a few clicks. Welcome to the new you. Welcome to B Nutritious.

Location:
204 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA 02114
(857) 772-7187

Monday – Friday 9am -10pm
Saturday – Sunday 9am- 9pm

January 10, 2023

1928
Elegant restaurant with traditional American dishes, 1920s-style cocktails & a bourbon menu.

Location:
97 Mt Vernon St.
Boston, MA 02108
(857) 233-5662

November 8, 2022

The Happy Journey
A whimsical boutique children’s shoppe filled with toys, books, and educational games!

Location:
73 Charles Street
Boston MA 02114

—

Hi I’m Lindsay Perrelli and I own The Happy Journey toy shoppe in Beacon Hill, named after my children’s book, The Happy Journey. Prior to this I worked as a teacher at Boston Children’s hospital where I taught bedside patients who were too sick to go to school on units such as oncology and cardiology. This inspired me to “seize the day” since I realized how fragile life is, and so I wrote my children’s book called, “The Happy Journey,” about a turtle who learns that happiness comes from within, and then shortly after, decided to carry out my dream of having a toy store on Charles Street!

A nostalgic, old-school feel (as if the clock stopped) is what I hope customers feel when they are in my shoppe, and the classics – Madeline, Paddington, The Little Prince, Eloise, Courdoury, Curious George etc… are the heart and soul of my shoppe. I carry mainly wooden toys from all around the world, but most are from England and France. I’m passionate about stocking my shoppe with timeless and quality toys and trinkets and love getting to know my little customers. I have a little playroom in the back of my shoppe for all of my tiny customers to play, color and read!

October 12, 2022

Eliane is very passionate about esthetics and gives her all to make sure the client leaves happy. She decided to open Le Svelte Spa to make people feel their best not just with their skin but relaxes too. She will be bringing a luxury Brazilian flavor and innovation with her magic hands doing lymphatic Drainage massages, HydraFacial, customized Facial and relaxing massage. She is highly skilled and knowledgeable. One of her favorite things about this job is being part of her clients lives by listening to them and giving good advice.

Location:
103 Charles St.
2nd floor
Boston, MA 02114

Contact:
Instagram:@lesveltespa
Phone: 617-397-0229
Email: info@lesveltespa

September 13, 2022

Cobblestones is a neighborhood eatery specializing in fresh, nutritious, delicious food served with a whole lot of love. Our menu includes sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, soups, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, pastries, soft-serve ice cream and more.

Dine in or out. And make sure to say hi to owner Jen Gallagher. She’ll give you a smile, a laugh and food you won’t forget.

Location
Cobblestones
30 Charles St
Boston. MA 02114
(617) 202-5377
[email protected]
Monday – Sunday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

April 12, 2022

Kured

Charcuterie made easy – build your own box of our locally sourced product in our store, or online.

Location & Hours:
Beacon Hill Store
83 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 870-4151
[email protected]

Currently delivering charcuterie platters and boxes to Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville.

The seeds for Gilli Rozynek’s company, Kured, were planted when she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain during her time at Boston College. While there, she learned a lot about the charcuterie landscape because it’s so ingrained in European culture.

Of everything she learned, the biggest take away was the behind-the-scenes of what the product could facilitate: bringing people together and powering real conversation. She fell in love with this relationship-focused culture.

When the pandemic struck and Gilli was sent home, she spent the summer of 2020 participating in BC’s summer accelerator program, where she launched Kured as an e-comm/delivery startup. She realized fairly quickly the pain points of the industry: the cost of money and time in buying and building her boards. She felt there was an easier way to execute…to make charcuterie more accessible to people.

That’s where she saw the scalable opportunity – to bring quick-service to charcuterie…to launch the “Sweetgreen for charcuterie,” – and power conversation along the way.

Co-founder Morgan Biles joined the Kured team in June of 2021, helping to open the doors to the store after graduating from Boston College in the class of 2021. Morgan has gone on to head the company’s marketing, social media and partnership efforts.

She is also inspired by the way that charcuterie can facilitate conversation and bring people together offline (and online – shoutout tiktok).

March 8, 2022

Paws

123 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

Paws is a new boutique pet shop located at 123 Charles street. We offer a wide range of treats and food, leashes and collars, apparel and toys. Contact us 617-936-4163 or [email protected].

February 8, 2022

REMY

96 Charles Street
Boston, MA
617-840-5898

Website: https://remycreations.com/
Instagram: @RemyCreations

REMY, the ultimate in new Nantucket styles that take you beaching, lunching, dining and back to the city. Fashion, jewelry, bright colors, cool trends. Located at 96 Charles Street, Beacon Hill and Nantucket. Visit REMY online at remycreations.com, follow them on Instagram at @RemyCreations or call them at 617-840-5898

January 11, 2022

Beacon Hill Hair

81 West Cedar Street in Beacon Hill
Boston, MA
617-840-5898

Website: https://beaconhillhairsalon.com/

Escape from the busy city and come in to Beacon Hill Hair to nourish and transform your tresses. Beacon Hill Hair offers a variety of custom coloring and cuts from maintenance to a complete new look, all guaranteed to leave you looking and feeling your most beautiful. Make an appointment today to come in our shop to unwind.

Owner: Kathleen Lamoureux

Kathleen Lamoureux holds over 10 years experience working at prestigious salons throughout Boston. She combines her knowledge gained through extensive training with her drive to have each and every customer leaving beautiful and confident. Kathleen specializes in balayage and color corrections and will individualize each appointment to fit your specific needs. Contact us today to curate your unique experience with Kathleen to bring your hair goals to life.

November 9, 2021

Blackstone’s
Kitchen + Home + Gifts

40 Charles Street
Boston, MA

@blackstonesboston

Formerly Kitchenwares

Owners: Jennifer & Jim Hill

Awarding winning locally owned store located at 46 Charles Street (Beacon Hill) is proud to have been welcoming YOU for nearly 40 years! Blackstone’s continues to be a popular destination for locals and visitors for our unique and distinctive gifts – for all reasons and all seasons. In 2020 we combined our kitchen store from Newbury Street (KitchenWares by Blackstones) and now offer something for everyone – kitchen, home and gift. KitchenWares has been received Boston Magazine’s award several times for Best local Kitchen Store. Onsite Knife Sharpening. Massachusetts largest Cutlery Department from kitchen knives to pocket knives. Exclusives, American Sourced, Seasonally Inspired and Boston souvenirs.

October 12, 2021

Matsu
@matsu_boston
617-982-6972

76 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

Owners: Dava & Masayuki Muramatsu

Curated selection of artisan-crafted products for the home imported exclusively for the store from Japan, Italy and France, including glassware, dinnerware, flatware, linens and incense; “fashion forward” items largely imported from Paris, such as clothing, jewelry, scarves and bags; and gifted items, like their own line of candles which are made in the US with packaging, design and distribution all handled in-house.

September 14, 2021

East Coast Ivy
https://east-coast-ivy.myshopify.com/

88 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

Owner: Greta Belsole

March 9, 2021

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill & KitchenWares by Blackstones
www.kitchenwaresboston.com

Recently merged in April 2020, Blackstone’s (founded 1982) and KitchenWares (founded as KitchenArts in 1980) are together at last; each store with its 38+ year legacy in Boston. The combined stores offer high quality cutlery, cookware, kitchen tools, gifts galore, Boston souvenirs and home accents, much sourced locally.

Owner Jennifer and James Hill (since 2006) invite you to explore their treasure trove of expertly selected premium quality products from a full Caspari department, Boston ceramist Jill Rosenwald, Lafco fragrances to fine cutlery such as Shun, Kikuichi, Global and Wusthof. Their shop is open daily for in-store shopping or 24/7 online. Whether you’ve got a culinary emergency, need a gift for someone special or a treat for yourself, you’re sure to find it here in this multi-faceted gem.

46 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

Jennifer Hill, Owner
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill – 617-227-4646
and
KitchenWares by Blackstones – 857-366-4237

February 9, 2021

Rugg Road Paper Co.
http://www.ruggroadpaper.com/

I have been a part of the Beacon Hill community for many years and it is where I chose to raise my daughter, Maureen. As Maureen entered middle school I began looking for my next career opportunity. That is when the chance to take over Rugg Road presented itself. Many of my customers are also my neighbors which has made the experience even more enjoyable.

Rugg Road Paper Co., began over 30 years ago with a love for bespoke designs and a dedication to excellent, personalized service. Our independently owned Charles Street shop continues to provide the community with tangible, handmade pieces designed with care. Today, we have expanded the shop and our services so that we can offer a wide selection of unique gifts, specialty papers, stationery, cards and invitations.

105 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

P. (617) 742 – 0002
E. [email protected]

January 12, 2021

Covet
Hanadi Hamzeh
[email protected]

We are a contemporary women’s consignment shop located in the heart of South Boston and Beacon Hill. Whether you’re looking for a high-end bag or something affordable and chic, we have it all!

109 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

covetboston.com

[email protected]

Before I opened Covet in 2013, I didn’t know what to expect. My background was in laboratory science, and aside from an eBay selling “side hustle” and a 6-month stint at a local consignment chain, I had no clue how to run a business. Let alone a consignment store.

But I wanted to try…

And I wanted to create something different. A store I would personally love to shop in. A beautiful, clean, welcoming space filled with cool, on-trend merchandise and prices I could actually afford. A store with staff that was warm, welcoming and committed to our customers… and a business model that wasn’t so detrimental to the environment, the way fashion often is.

And that’s just what we’ve created…

I take pride in what Covet has become – a neighborhood shop where locals and visitors alike can come and enjoy the “thrill of the hunt”. In our 5+ years in business, we’ve grown tremendously. First, our move in 2017 when we moved next door and tripled the size of the space. And then in 2019, opening our second sister store in Beacon Hill on Charles Street.

And who knows where we’ll go next…

While the business has changed quite a bit from when we first opened our doors, our commitment to our customers has not. They are our first and last priority. No matter how much we grow, that will never change.

I am very much an active owner – on most days you can find me at one of the 2 stores. Please contact me directly if you have any suggestions or comments on how we can continue to make Covet the best place in Boston to shop and consign. Thank you for taking an interest in our store.

November 10, 2020

Upstairs Downstairs
Laura Cousineau

Keeping it local since 1992. Located in the heart of Beacon Hill, Upstairs Downstairs Antiques has five uniquely decorated rooms filled with affordable antiques, art and home decor.

Address:
93 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

Phone: 617-367-1950
Contact: Laura Cousineau, proprietor

October 13, 2020

CRUSH & WHITNEY + WINSTON

Rebecca Hall & Laura Macris
617-720-2600

Crush Boutique
131 Charles Street, # 1, Boston, MA

We provide customers with a well-curated collection of the best in women’s contemporary fashion. Owners and childhood friends Rebecca Hall and Laura Macris select diverse pieces for a diverse city. From casual-chic to elegant cocktail, Crush’s style can best be described as sophistication with a touch of whimsy. Fashion-forward women can visit both of their brick and mortar locations in Boston, as well as their lifestyle boutique, Whitney + Winston.

www.shopcrushboutique.com

Whitney + Winston Boutique
Gifts + Accessories for a Fashionable Lifestyle
113 Charles Street, Boston, MA

We offer a distinct collection of gifts and accessories for a fashionable lifestyle. Named for Hall’s daughter and Ayers’ Corgi puppy, the shop exudes a playful and airy, yet sophisticated, nature. Carrying everything from luxe and feminine cashmere wraps by Minnie Rose, to cozy and elegant throw blankets from A Soft Idea, to seasonal accessories ranging from beach bags to leather totes and clutches, Whitney + Winston is certain to serve up the dose of retail therapy you need. Remaining true to its namesake, the shop is also adorned with plenty of unique and fun gifts for your little ones whether they walk on two or four legs. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re sure to find something for everyone in your family.

www.whitneyandwinston.com

September 8, 2020

Luxor Hair Studio
Rosanna Miller

Rosanna Miller opened Luxor Hair Studio on Charles Street in February 2020. A master hair designer/colorist serving clients for the past 15 years, Rosanna received her training from Vidal Sassoon, Loreal Professional and Goldwell. Rosanna has been part of the Beacon Hill community for the past 7+ years with her number one goal of helping her clients to look their best, something she looks forward to continuing as a Beacon Hill business owner.

luxorhairstudio.com
857-239-9065

February 11, 2020

Amanda Pratt
Salon Design

Salon Design is the leading platform for studio made furniture, lighting, textiles, and decorative arts. We are an incubator for emerging female designers and makers and a hub for cultural content.

Visit Website: https://www.salondesign.us/

January 14, 2020

Susan Cabana
Nourish Your Soul

Nourish Your Soul is Boston’s first cold-pressed juice bar. Our mission is to help you achieve optimal health and happiness, one sip, one bite, one choice at a time.

Visit Website: https://nourishyoursoul.com/

November 12, 2019

Jeannie & Hadley Dombrowski
Owners

OVERVIEW Green Eyed Daisy is a mother/daughter owned women’s boutique specializing in unique clothing and accessories for all occasions.

We first opened our doors 12 years ago in Cape Cod and now conveniently located on Charles Street. We pride ourselves on presenting unique clothing, accessories and gifts; many sourced locally and domestically. We delight in providing our customers with the perfect accent piece that makes their outfit or dressing them head to toe.

100 Charles Street, Boston, MA (857) 315-5098

www.greeneyeddaisy.com

INSTAGRAM @greeneyeddaisy

October 8, 2019

Rodi Mikelis
Crown Cleaners and Joanne’s Dress Shop

Crown Cleaners is run by three generations of tailors and is known for their customer service and alteration expertise.

September 10, 2019

Allie Carroll
Owner

OVERVIEW RAINBOWS Pottery Studio was built from Love. The hope of the studio was to become a place for artists- of all ages- to explore the vast, boundless world of art. RAINBOWS is open daily from 11-6 and is happy to extend the hours for ladies’ nights, date night and any other reason to have a good time! We serve from 0-110 in age and we hope to relay art is a great way to relax. You can bring your own beer or wine and laugh amongst friends while creating.

15 Charles Street, Boston, MA (617) 306-6131

www.rainbowspottery.com

INSTAGRAM @rainbowspottery

April 9, 2019

Justin Roger, Owner
Twentieth Century Limited
73 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

http://www.boston-vintagejewelry.com/

Largest selection of vintage designer collectable jewelry anywhere. Over 2,000 pairs of cufflinks. Take a virtual tour.

March 12, 2019

Tiana Celesia,Owner
Ideal Weight Loss Boston & Functional Nutritionist
Charles Street Family Chiropractic
102 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

www.thebostonwellnessgroup.com/weight-loss

www.tianacelesia.com

February 12, 2019

Jill Pelo, Owner
The Designers; Leather Clothiers, Inc
106 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

www.designerleatherclothes.com

January 8, 2019

Soodee
Diane Agoun, Owner

Soodee is a woman-owned upscale fashion boutique whose mission is to stylishly dress our clients so that every woman walks out feeling confident and gorgeous for any occasion. “Soodee women” love to wear our internationally sourced pieces year after year because of the high quality and innovative design. No boring clothes here! Our creative collaborators design classic pieces with a cutting edge twist.

Started in 2007 on Newbury Street, our sophisticated clientele began asking for more and more of our timeless attire to grow their wardrobes. Loving how passionate our Boston base was about dressing beautifully for every moment of their lives, we expanded to a second location on Charles Street five years ago to better serve our community of fashionistas.

November 13, 2018

Katherine Hudson
K M Hudson Ltd.
125 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

http://katherinemhudson.com/

October 9, 2018

Julianne Kiley
The Sevens
77 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114

The Sevens Ale House is the locals’ destination for a neighborhood pub. We are open seven days a week, the perfect place for good vibes, casual dining with with friends, and great craft beers.

September 11, 2018

Allison Daroie, Owner
Paridaez
127 Charles St Suite 1F
Boston, MA 02114

https://paridaez.com/

Paridaez is a minimalistic transformative apparel brand, meaning each piece from the collection transforms into completely different articles of clothing, providing looks suitable for any environment, including work, workout, night out or travel. For example The Albatross, transitions from a work ready pencil skirt with triangle cutouts along the leg, but the cutouts become arm holes, turning the albatross into a sexy cocktail dress, from a sexy dress, slide the band at the bottom up and the albatross turns into a breezy top. All of the material is moisture wicking as well as easy wash and dry. Paridaez recently received 2 accolades including Best New Addition by Improper Bostonian and founder Allison Daroie was awarded Best Clothing Designer of Boston by Boston Magazine.

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February 13, 2018

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill

Address: 46 Charles Street, Boston
Phone: (617) 277-4646
Website: www.blackstonesbeaconhill.com

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill ~ Part of Beacon Hill since 1982, this awarding winning specialty gift boutique located at 46 Charles Street is proud to have been welcoming YOU for 36 years! Blackstone’s continues to be a popular destination for locals and visitors for their unique and distinctive gifts – for all reasons and all seasons – including local products, Blackstone’s exclusives and Boston memorabilia.

KitchenWares ~ (Est. 2010) carries on the 38 year legacy of a family-owned kitchen store on Newbury Street. “KW” is widely known today for being a premium specialty kitchen store and now the largest fine cutlery source in the Greater Boston area. Awarded Best of Boston 2011 & 2016 by Boston Magazine and Best of Boston Home 2012 by Boston Magazine Home, KitchenWares offers high quality cutlery, cookware, bakeware and kitchen accessories and also provides professional in-house knife sharpening.

ABOUT JENNIFER

What are you most passionate about professionally?
As an extrovert I love people, I love meeting new people and most importantly, I love to see the joy in someone’s eyes when I have been able to make them happy. This makes retail a natural fit for me.

What one event in your childhood had the greatest effect on your life?
When my parents lost their retail business. It taught me the hardest job in retail is being disciplined in buying – now how much to buy and when to mark something down and move on to something new.

If you weren’t doing what you do today, what other job would you have?
I would be nurse.

What are you surprisingly good at?
Each day I share a part of me with every person who walks through my shop door. Sharing for me is done through stories and stories are part of what makes my shops unique and it is an experience both myself and those who work alongside me like to share too. I like to find local artists with a story and products I personally relate to – like local Boston ceramic artist Jill Rosenwald whose brightly colored serving pieces and home décor products I carry at Blackstone’s. Sharing a part of me also includes comforting a stranger who is in town for treatment at the hospital and just needs to talk.

What is a typical day like for you?
Each day is ultimately defined by the people who walk through my shop door. One customer can lead to many things ~ a new product idea, a shared common experience, a new approach to something, even a new friendship.

What’s the craziest thing you have done?
Going into retail!

January 9, 2018

Gary Drug Company

Address: 110 Charles Street, Boston
Phone: (617) 227-0023
Website: www.GaryDrug.com

My name is Gail Bray, I work at the Gary Drug, the oldest independent pharmacy in Boston. I have been at this store for the past 18 years, and have seen many changes in the neighborhood. Gary Drug is known to be the place like Cheers, where everyone knows your name, to being also like Vegas, where what happens here stays here.

November 14, 2017

HEIST

Address: 51 Charles Street, Boston
Phone: 857-239.9149
Website: www.decemberthieves.com

December Thieves, a Boston-born, multi-brand retail concept was founded by jewelry designer and veteran retailer Lana Barakat in 2013 as a way to capture the heart of the wandering traveler. In the spring of this year, December Thieves welcomed a new little sister, HEIST at 51 Charles St. With a focus on slow fashion, emerging design and small batch manufacturing, December Thieves + HEIST bring to market some of the newest and most talented brands in the apparel, accessories and home categories.

Moss covered walls, a ceiling dripping with crystals and swaths of natural light set a most romantic backdrop for the HEIST story. With a daring and romantic edit in apparel, shoes and home décor store Barakat scours the globe for exciting new-to-market brands to bring back home. Think German edgy women’s wear designer Rundholz, laser cut accessories from Italy’s Claudio Cutiliti, sparkling jewels from Santa Cruz designer Variance Object and handcrafted Cydwoq shoes from Southern California.

October 10, 2017

Helen’s Leather Shop

Address: 110 Charles Street, Boston
Phone: (617) 742-2077
Website: www.HelensLeather.com

Established in 1969, Helen’s Leather Shop has evolved from a hippie leather goods shop to one which also represents the finest western cowboy boots, Stetson hats, Rockmount western wear, leather coats, bags, wallets, briefcases, backpacks, gloves, and belts. We have an excellent selection of western wear for country concerts, wild west parties as well as for those who wish to horseback ride in Jackson Hole. Motorcycle speed-devils can also invest in beautiful Schott jackets, leather pants, and Frye boots. Birkenstock and Naot brands are available for the leather sandal lovers! Helen’s also provides unmatched services for leather care and leather repairs. Stop by to experience the look that feels so good!

April 11, 2017

Rebekah Brooks – Rebekah Brooks Jewelry

Rebekah Brooks Jewelry is a small, local company specializing in the design and production of fine handmade jewelry. Our business began in Brooklyn, New York in 1998 and relocated to Western Massachusetts in 2004. Our flagship store is in Thornes Market in downtown Northampton MA and our second retail location is in Harvard Square in the heart of Cambridge MA. Our third and newest retail location is in the historical Beacon Hill neighborhood on Charles Street in Boston. Or newest location features an expanded selection of antique jewels alongside exquisite presentations of Rebekah’s handmade line.

Every facet of our jewelry, from earwires to castings, is made by hand in our studio by a talented team of jewlers. We stand firmly behind the detail and quality that goes into every single piece that we make. Our classic adornments are equally fashion forward and timeless. We offer custom jewelry options as well as new & vintage engagement and wedding rings. Our wedding and engagement rings are all handmade with the same attention to detail and are made custom to order. We also specialize in Victorian through Art Deco antique jewelry & gifts.

Website

February 13, 0217

Crush and Whitney & Winston

Laura Ayers and Rebecca Hall are co-owners of Crush Boutique and Whitney + Winston, as well as lifelong friends. Growing up together on the Connecticut shoreline, Rebecca and Laura shared a childhood dream of opening a clothing boutique; a dream that they never lost sight of.

When Laura and Rebecca both moved to Boston post-college they fell in love with Boston as a city and Beacon Hill, specifically, as a neighborhood. They knew this was the perfect location to take a leap of faith and open their first retail store, Crush Boutique. Crush Boutique was launched in 2007 with a vision to bring a well curated collection of women’s clothing and accessories to Boston in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Customers are greeted by a knowledgeable sales staff who is always on hand to help find the perfect ensemble for all of life’s events. From casual-chic to elegant cocktail, Crush’s style can best be described as sophistication with a touch of whimsy.

Opening their second location of Crush Boutique on Newbury Street in 2012, Rebecca and Laura continue to evolve their business in order to change with the times and keep the Boston fashionista en vogue. Notably, Crush has been featured in InStyle, Lucky Magazine, Glamour UK, and Us Weekly. Additionally, Crush has received a number of Boston accolades; including several “Boston’s Best” awards from The Improper Bostonian and “Best of the New” from The Boston Globe.

In the fall of 2015, Rebecca and Laura wanted to expand their presence in Beacon Hill and opened Whitney + Winston, a fashionable lifestyle boutique, a half block from Crush’s Charles Street location. Named for Rebecca’s daughter and Laura’s corgi puppy, Whitney + Winston exudes a playful and airy, yet sophisticated, nature. Continuing the same exceptional customer service, the store is adorned with unique gifts and accessories. Whitney + Winston is the go-to stop for the perfect gifts for everyone, whether they walk on two legs or four. Credited by The Boston Globe as one of the “Best of the New” in the first year of business, Whitney + Winston is a fun new adventure for Laura and Rebecca that perfectly mirrors the newest stage in their lives.

You can always find Rebecca and Laura in one of their three locations working hard to uphold the brands’ stellar reputation. To say the success of the stores is a dream come true is an understatement!

www.whitneyandwinston.com

www.shopcrushboutique.com

January 10, 2017

Alix Childs – Ceremony

This is me at my wedding five years ago. (And that’s my foxy hubby, Ollie. You’ll probably see him around the shop now and then, too.)

I loved shopping for my wedding gown, but hated having to go to New York City to find “the one”. Ever since, I’ve had a vision of opening a new kind of bridal shop in Boston. Something for the bride with a sophisticated sense of style and a unique vision for her wedding day.

A place that’s not only filled with gorgeous, can’t-find-em-anywhere-else gowns, but that’s also laid-back and fun. A place where you want to hang out and play dress-up. Find your dream dress. Get inspired.

I opened Ceremony because I think women want to shop for their wedding day like they shop for everyday clothes – at a boutique that reflects their personal style.

I’d love to help you make this experience as special (and stylish) as possible and hope to see you soon.

Website

November 8, 2016

Millicent Cutler – Oui Millie

We are your destination for what is current, comfortable, and original. Ouimillie is a Boston-based boutique and design studio, showcasing established and emerging talents from Europe and beyond. Owner and interior designer Millicent Cutler spends a portion of each calendar year in Paris, sourcing Ouimillie’s unique products. Her design work is both local and international, and always influenced by those around her.

Website

October 2016

Natalie Mercer, Mercer’s Fabric
http://mercersfabric.com/

Mercer’s Fabric is relatively new to the Beacon Hill neighborhood, opening just a few months ago in March of 2016. The goal of the shop is to provide and sustain a creative outlet for people who are both just getting into sewing now, or have been sewing for many years. From the start we offered patterns (mostly from individual artisans and designers, in the USA and abroad), fabric (with an emphasis on natural fibers and on unusual offerings not otherwise available in Boston), and sewing supplies.

In May, we expanded to offering basic sewing classes, and as Mercer’s grow, we plan to offer a diverse array of them, beginner to advanced. Group classes are offered as well as individual sessions, and we can even offer private lessons at your home, so you can use the machine you already have: whatever works best for you! Mercer’s also carries quilting, home decor, and upholstery fabrics, but the main focus is on apparel sewing.

Natalie Mercer, the proprietor, has sewn from a young age. While she has attended classes at MassArt in fashion design and clothing construction, she has gotten most of her training from her mother and grandmother, and is otherwise self taught. (Due to the wide availability of online sewing technique tutorials and videos, most people these days are indeed self taught, so Natalie enjoys being on the same “playing field” as her customers.) You do not need to attend an extended program to become proficient at sewing, especially as modern sewing machines are so highly capable. (We carry exclusively Baby Lock sewing machines and sergers.)

Mercer’s Fabric believes in creative freedom and individuality and would love to help with any kind of project a sewist might dream up, from simple tote bags and baby blankets to basic skirts and then more advanced dresses and more.

We are a new business and very excited to see where things go. Stop by anytime to get started on that project you’ve been too intimidated to start: now’s the time! Look for the hedgehog sign out front!

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March 8, 2016

Margarita Druker, Persona Jewelry

Margarita Druker with her husband and master jeweler, Gary Shteyman, opened Persona Jewelry eleven years ago in the heart of Kenmore Square in the Hotel Commonwealth. Persona Jewelry specializes in one-of-a-kind custom jewelry, while also working with a variety of local artisans and jewelers. Over the course of the next 8 years they opened 6 more stores across the country with their special brand of lifestyle luxury stores combining the ease of hotel gift shops with the high-end jewelry merchandise Persona was known for. This landed Margarita in the pages of the Boston Business Journal as one of the business innovators of 2008.

Born in Moldova, Margarita achieved the true American dream that she had been promised as a child. Margarita began her career very young, graduating high school at sixteen years old and college at nineteen. She was one of the youngest students ever to graduate Babson College with an advanced degree in Entrepreneurship & Marketing. She was the queen of nightlife in Boston connecting thousands of nightclub denizens with open space throughout the city to establish dance nights or cocktail hours that are still in effect over a decade later. Next came restaurant management, with a variety of foodie names throughout the city. This is when her personal and professional life merged with her husband Gary who had recently become a master jeweler after 13 years apprenticing and creating his own lines of jewelry in Newton.

It was time for the next career move. At the age of 22 Margarita launched her jewelry company, Persona Jewelry. In the year 2004, the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square was the talk of the town. Promised was an extension of Newbury Street, the fashion trail that begins at the Boston Common and would now trail past Mass Ave through to Kenmore Square. Stores opened, stores closed, but Persona remained resilient. When remodeling threatened the future of the store on the eve of their ten year anniversary at Hotel Commonwealth, Persona took the opportunity to start fresh, moving to historic Beacon Hill, where Margarita had always envisioned her bijoux. Over one year on Charles Street has proven that success can come from happy accidents by those with the skills to navigate them.

February 9, 2016

Lana Barakat, December Thieves

December Thieves is a creative and dynamic artist-owned, artist-run retail concept with two brick and mortar locations in Boston.

The collections offered in store– many exclusive only to December Thieves in Boston or in some cases in the US- feature distinctive lines of sophisticated and contemporary apparel, jewelry, personal accessory and home décor brands from independent and hard-to-find US and international designers.

Lana Barakat is the founder of December Thieves. Also a jewelry designer, Lana owned and operated her first store from 2002- 2007 on Newbury St. which featured her own designs in addition to a range of emerging jewelry designer brands. Taking a “retail break” for several years to concentrate on her wholesale and ecommerce business while starting a family, Lana found herself itching to return to her passion and opened her first December Thieves store in the fall of 2013 in the South End. The incredible opportunity to join the Beacon Hill neighborhood presented itself only one short year later. The South End location plays host to various workshops and pop ups, enhancing creative connections between customers and the local artist community and the Beacon Hill store focuses on providing shoppers with a wide array of quality products (may of them one-of-a-kind), and an engaging and informative approach to relationship building with our customers.

January 12, 2016

Tara Foley and Amy Murphy, Follain

Follain is a new kind of beauty store. Our curated portfolio includes safe and effective products by 40 passionate U.S. brands. Many products are local and some are refillable, to cut back on the immense plastic waste created by beauty products today. Read about our strict ingredient safety platform here. Follain exists so that you no longer have to sacrifice your health or values for beauty! We opened our first store in Boston’s South End, in July 2013, and now have four locations: South End, Beacon Hill, Nantucket, and Union Market (Washington, DC).

Tara Foley is the founder of Follain, and Amy Murphy is the director of Follain’s Beacon Hill store. Shocked by the unsafe ingredients in U.S. beauty products, Tara launched Follain after years researching safe and sustainable skincare, and receiving her MBA from Babson. Before joining the Follain team, Amy worked in operations, management, and training for many national and international retail companies. Together, Tara and Amy are passionate about educating Beacon Hill women about the importance and benefits of feeding your skin safe, clean ingredients!

Visit us at 65 Charles Street, or online at http://www.shopfollain.com

foll

October 13, 2015

Victoria Glazomitsky
Executive Director, Nichols House Museum

In May, 2015 Victoria Glazomitsky became the Executive Director of the Nichols House Museum. In addition to preserving and interpreting the museum and its collection, developing programming and overseeing daily operations, Victoria also sets the vision for the museum. In concert with her Board and staff, she is redefining what it means to be an historic house museum in the 21st century, and how the ethos of investigative thought, equality and creativity, of the museum’s founder and last resident, Rose Standish Nichols, applies to contemporary life. Previously, Victoria was the Special Projects Manager for the CEO at the Peabody Essex Museum, where she worked on organization-wide projects that did not neatly fit into any one department, including PEM’s recently announced building expansion, organizational strategies, and programmatic initiatives. She has previously worked at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, as well as the industries of fashion and health insurance. She has completed the Getty Museum Leadership Program for the Next Generation of Museum Leaders and has a degree in Art History and International Management from UMass, Boston. Originally from Russia, Victoria lives in East Boston with her fiancé.

September 8, 2015

Susan Symonds
Infinity Portrait Design

Infinity Portrait Design is a boutique portrait studio located in one of the beautiful brownstones on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill since 2005 offering a full line of newborn, children, family and executive portraiture.

Congratulations on your 10 year Anniversary on the Hill!

Susan is offering photography services before the September and October Forums for professional use and the Membership Directory.

Email her to reserve your spot: [email protected]

April 14, 2015

Ali Ringenburg

Ali Ringenburg has a strong commitment to the tradition of representational work and the artistic profession. Prior to opening Sloane Merrill Gallery in 2012, she worked with Nashville-based interdisciplinary artist Adrienne Outlaw, at the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, and was Director at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia. The daughter of two teachers, Ali spent her summers visiting museums, historic sites, and natural parks both in the States and abroad — contributing to her love of the arts. Ali holds a BA in Art & Art History and English Literature from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sara Demeter

Art Resource Collaborative for Kids, (ARCK) 501(c)(3) nonprofit was born/founded by Sara Mraish Demeter’s art studio in Beacon Hill. She founded ARCK 3 years ago in response to the lack of arts education at her son’s Boston Public School when he started kindergarten. After spearheading a schoolwide program of art lessons and a spring art exhibition at the school, She founded Art Resource Collaborative for Kids (ARCK) to provide high quality arts education opportunities to underserved students in schools across Boston.

ARCK trains highly qualified teaching artists and brings them into school classrooms along with volunteer mentors. ARCK’s lesson plans are aligned with Common Core and national visual art standards, and closely tied to what the kids are learning in their academic subjects. They take a unique approach, working side-by-side with teachers and including a multicultural, community perspective in art education. ARCK’s core values are leadership roles, social justice, and civic engagement.

Click here for more information.

February 10, 2015

PRESSED
Ashley Gleeson

PRESSED a new Boston brand, born in Beacon Hill, was developed to cater to those with fast paced lifestyles still seeking high quality, healthy menu choices on the go. The menu includes a line of cold-pressed juices concentrated on critical essential elements and phytochemicals, superfood shakes designed around mood, a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu of various plant based entrees, as well as house made paletas (gourmet popsicles) in fun and unique flavors. All of their items are made in house from the best and healthy ingredients around to make sure you are feeling your best on any given day.

PRESSED’s founders, Ashley and Dave, all too often would hear locals with busy lives not unlick their own complain ‘there are too few choices for healthy food on-the-go’ or that high quality ingredients or novel and creative menus rarely accompanied food on-the-go. With a combined background in hospitality management and medicine they developed the brand for the people of Boston, recognizing that those with busy lives also deserve to eat from a creative, healthy menu.

PRESSED is located at 120 Charles St. serving the neighborhood 7 days a week.

Celebrity Portrait Photographer Sean Hagwell

January 13, 2015

Green Room Boston
Jessica Thornton

The Green Room is a concierge hair studio, providing hair services in a private, relaxed setting with a single chair and a singular stylist. The hallmarks of a Green Room experience are meticulous attention to detail, the utmost in discretion and above all – fun.

Jessica is committed to creating hair that that fits seamlessly into daily life through collaboration with my client. Looking at pictures together and talking about goals creates space for me to refine the overall look and feel that we want to accomplish and explain what the options are. Every appointment is an opportunity to create something fresh and seasonally nuanced.

The Green Room is located at 49 River Street in Beacon Hill. For additional information, please visit: http://www.greenroomboston.com/

November 11, 2014

Fastachi
Susan Etyemezian, Co-Owner

Susan Etyemezian is Co-Owner of Fastachi, a local artisanal food manufacturing and retail company that specializes in artisanal nuts, nut butters, hand-dipped chocolates, and gifts. Susan is a graduate of Parson School of Design with a background in Fashion Marketing. But her passion for food took over shortly after she married, and Susan joined her husband, Souren, in 1999 to develop and build the Fastachi Brand. From a small storefront in Belmont, MA, where they mastered the craft of nut roasting, they quickly established Fastachi as one of the country’s top purveyors of fresh roasted nuts. They expanded the business to include both Wholesale and E-Commerce Divisions, moved the entire operation, including the small storefront, to Watertown, MA. Fastachi began selling in Boston area Farmers’ Markets. And in 2014, Susan and Souren opened their second and newest retail location in Beacon Hill. With Souren as visionary and Susan as implementer, together they have created the “Fastachi Experience”. An experience which is defined by innovative nut products, combined with creative packaging, uncompromising quality, exceptional customer service, and a warm and inviting atmosphere. They truly are nuts about nuts. But that’s why when you eat any nut, you’ll always judge it by a Fastachi.

October 14, 2014

Hilary House Interiors
Hilary Hickock, Owner

Hilary Hickok owns and operates Hilary House Interiors, a shop and residential interior design firm which has been located at 86 Chestnut Street for 56 years. Originally started by her mother, Ann Sullivan and grandmother, Hilary House also had a second shop located on Cape Cod in West Brewster for over 20 years.

Hilary grew up on Beacon Hill and is a graduate of Buckingham Browne and Nichols School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst-School of Business. She worked in New York City for ten years in the publishing field, travelled nationally for a trade publication in the advanced manufacturing industry and later worked for Barron’s Magazine Dow Jones and Company. Returning to Boston, she joined Hilary House Interiors and has worked for twenty five years designing and completing numerous projects throughout Boston, the Cape and Islands, Maine, Rhode Island as well as Florida, San Diego and Washington D.C.