Jonathan Todd and Andrew Hatch have dreamed of owning a home decor shop since the early days of their relationship.
And since June 2025, that dream has become a reality. Together, they opened Balston Mercantile, named after the combination of their hometowns: Boston and Baltimore. Located at 849 W 36th St. in Hampden, the store sells home decor, furniture, jewelry, antiques and more.
The couple, who met online in 2013, began taking weekend trips to shopping towns across the East Coast. Their first trip together to Cold Spring, New York, was where the idea began.
“It was one of our first trips together. It was in the summer, it was Cold Spring. I always loved antiquing. And I found out he loved it because we were going up and down to the stores and we had a blast,” Hatch said. “And that’s when we started saying, ‘Oh, it’d be so fun to do this one day.’ And the seed was planted there.”
Hatch and Todd said that over the years, they’ve collected a wide range of home decor, furniture, and antiques. Their friends always encouraged them to open a shop, referring to them as “the couple that had the parties or the couple that helped to decorate their apartment when they moved into their new place.”
“It was just always kind of in the back of our minds, and life just kind of drew us in a different direction at a certain point, and it just seemed like a good opportunity,” Todd said.
“It’s kind of like fate,” Hatch said
Prior to opening the store, the two lived and worked in New York for over two decades, Todd as a hairstylist and Hatch worked in real estate.
They returned to Baltimore in October 2024 so Todd could stay close and care for his mother. With the timing finally right, Todd decided it was the perfect moment to open the shop.
“Being back here just feels really, really full circle, just because I grew up coming here [Hampden] on the weekends,” Todd said.
The two searched all across Baltimore to find the right space until landing in Hampden.
“Coming to Hampden, going to the restaurants, going to the shops, the vibe…. It won,” Hatch said.
The store works with a variety of artisans and artists, spanning from Maine to Virginia, with a couple located in North Carolina. The two said they have been doing personal research for years, including plenty of notes and networking while shopping on their own.
“When it came time to open, we just opened the notes and said, let’s call this one, let’s call that one,” Hatch said.
Since opening, Hatch and Todd have already faced several challenges. New tariffs have increased the cost of certain goods, particularly for artisans who rely on brass from India or art supplies, such as watercolors from Canada. They also had to navigate the impact of the recent government shutdown, which was an unprecedented setback for potential customers right before the holiday season.
Despite the bumps in the road, Hatch and Todd said meeting and interacting with customers has been the highlight.
“Just seeing their reaction walking around, overhearing the things that they’re liking and just being proud in the moment. It’s just kind of like, I did my job,” Todd said.
“We often get calls, you know, from people saying how wonderful products are. I would say that the rewards are when they come back,” Hatch said.
Customer Betti Gregus of Baltimore found Balston Mercantile on Instagram and has enjoyed supporting the business while buying plenty of gifts for friends and family.
“I like that it’s well curated, vintage-ish, and still neatly organized,” Gregus said. “It’s important to keep local funds in the local neighborhoods, especially in Baltimore City.”
The pair is excited to continue fine-tuning their shop and their online ordering system, and they eventually hope to expand. Hatch said they are “still testing the waters” with their first year being open.
“This is what we’re meant to be doing,” Hatch said. “We love it. We’re passionate about it.”
Todd smiled at him. “We’re doing something that we both love. We’re able to do it together and we’re able to be close to family at the same time. It just feels right.”
