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 life happiness has skyrocketed.
At Welcome Home, we believe that shopping should feel like… well, coming home! The first thing you’ll hear when you walk through our doors is a big, hearty “Welcome!” because we truly appreciate that you have a choice in where you shop and work. Our job is to create a warm, friendly, and positive environment where curiosity is encouraged, and knowledge is shared.
Welcome Home is the sister store of our gourmet specialty market, Chester River Wine & Cheese. Owned and operated by life and business partners Jennifer Baker and John Laucik, we turned our passion for food, hospitality, and great design into a second (and favorite) career.
We started in Chestertown in 2015 with the Chester River Wine & Cheese Company. In 2017, We opened Welcome Home Chestertown. On the tail-end of COVID, we expanded to Annapolis, and opened Welcome Home Annapolis in 2021. Several years later, we brought our love for home and hospitality to Easton, and opened Welcome Home Easton in 2024. Each location reflects our shared love for thoughtful design, well-crafted goods, and the little details that turn a house into a home.
Before all this, we were management consultants. John’s expertise is in finance, supply chain, and process design (a.k.a. the behind-the-scenes magic). Jenn specialized in organization development and communication (basically, making change exciting instead of scary). We met at North Highland, fell madly in love, and now spend our days building businesses together.
John’s all about wine and operations, Jenn’s the design nerd, and we both love a good dinner party. We believe that a home should be filled with things that bring you joy—and we can’t wait to help you find them.
Charitable Giving
As a small business, we believe in making a big impact where it matters most. That’s why we focus our giving on organizations and educational programs that address food insecurity, public education, and our environment.
We are especially proud supporters of the Sultana Education Foundation, which provides hands-on environmental education to children throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By fostering a deep connection to the Bay, Sultana helps inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Supporting our community isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a privilege. Through donations, sponsorships, and partnerships, we’re committed to doing our part to create a stronger, more connected future for all.
A limited number of in-kind and financial gifts are available. To request a sponsorship or donation, please contact us at info@chesterrivergourmet.com.