Curated Home Goods for Cooking, Entertaining & Everyday Living
Welcome Home Markets is a family-owned collection of home and kitchen boutiques on Maryland's Eastern Shore, with locations in Easton and Chestertown, Maryland. We specialize in thoughtfully curated kitchen tools, luxury European linens, tabletop collections, gourmet pantry favorites, home fragrance, and meaningful gifts for people who love to cook, entertain, and create beautiful homes.
We believe the best moments in life happen around the table. Whether you're preparing a weeknight dinner, hosting a holiday gathering, or searching for the perfect hostess gift, we're here to help you find pieces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
Big Consultants Turned Tiny Business Owners
Ten years, two brands, and four stores later, we like to joke that our hourly rate has plummeted—but our happiness has skyrocketed.
Welcome Home is owned by husband-and-wife team Jennifer Baker and John Laucik, who traded careers in management consulting for life as small business owners. What started as a leap of faith has grown into two beloved retail brands centered around hospitality, great food, thoughtful design, and genuine customer relationships.
Before opening our stores, we both worked as consultants helping organizations solve complex business challenges. John specialized in finance, supply chain, and process design—the behind-the-scenes systems that keep everything running smoothly. Jenn focused on organizational development and communications, helping companies navigate change and build stronger teams.
We met while working together at North Highland, fell in love, and eventually decided to build something of our own.
That "something" became Chester River Wine & Cheese Company in historic Chestertown in 2015. As customers continued asking where they could find beautiful serving pieces, quality cookware, and unique gifts, the idea for Welcome Home was born.
In 2017, we opened Welcome Home Chestertown. In 2021, we expanded to Annapolis, and in 2024, we brought Welcome Home to historic downtown Easton. Along the way, we've remained committed to creating stores that feel welcoming, inspiring, and deeply connected to the communities they serve. In 2026 we unexpectedly closed our Annapolis store due to structural challenges in our building. Who knows what the future holds, but we think we’ve at least one more store in us!
Today, Welcome Home is the sister brand to Chester River Wine & Cheese, and together our businesses celebrate everything we love most: cooking, gathering, entertaining, and making everyday life just a little more beautiful.
Shopping Should Feel Like Coming Home
The first thing you'll hear when you walk through our doors is a warm, heartfelt "Welcome!"
We genuinely appreciate that you have a choice in where you shop, and we never take that for granted.
Our goal is to create stores where curiosity is encouraged, questions are welcomed, and knowledge is shared. We love helping customers choose the right pan, discover the perfect table linen, find a thoughtful wedding gift, or simply leave inspired to cook a great meal or invite friends over.
John is the wine enthusiast and operations expert. Jenn is the design lover and product curator. Together, we share a passion for helping people create homes that reflect warmth, generosity, and hospitality.
We don't believe you need more things.
We believe you deserve better things—beautifully made pieces that you'll use, love, and pass along for years.
What You'll Discover at Welcome Home
Customers visit Welcome Home for:
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Luxury European table linens
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Premium cookware, bakeware, and kitchen tools
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Beautiful tabletop collections and entertaining essentials
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Gourmet pantry foods and specialty gifts
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Home fragrance, bath products, and everyday luxuries
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Wedding, hostess, and housewarming gifts
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Expert advice from a team that genuinely loves cooking, entertaining, and home design
Everything we carry is carefully chosen because we'd proudly use it in our own homes.
Giving Back
As a small business, we believe in making a meaningful impact where it matters most. We proudly support organizations and educational programs focused on food security, public education, and environmental stewardship throughout our communities.
We are especially honored to support the Sultana Education Foundation, whose hands-on environmental programs connect thousands of children each year with the Chesapeake Bay and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Supporting our communities isn't simply part of our business—it's part of who we are. Through charitable giving, sponsorships, partnerships, and volunteer efforts, we're committed to helping create stronger, healthier, and more connected communities across Maryland's Eastern Shore.
A limited number of financial and in-kind donations are available each year. To request support for your organization or event, please contact us at info@chesterrivergourmet.com.
We hope you'll stop in, say hello, and spend a little time exploring.
After all, shopping should feel like coming home.