The ladies of Maggie Lyn Mercantile (L-R): Owner Grace Booth, sister Maggie, grandmother Evelyn “Lyn” Lanter, daughter Charlotte and Grace’s mother, Kelly Burns. The other photos on this page show some of the cool stuff you can expect to find at Maggie Lyn’s.

Maggie Lyn Mercantile in Hillsboro is a Family Affair

by Tara L. Simmons

Grace Booth grew up in a small town in Illinois and fondly remembers going shopping with her mother and grandmother at all the fun shops downtown. That’s when almost every small town had a thriving business district… They were full, and they were busy. Those times have changed. Many downtowns are dying out as big box and chain stores build on the outskirts of town, forcing some small businesses to close. But Hillsboro is changing that, growing by leaps and bounds, with a variety of locally owned small businesses already, and more springing up all the time… and Grace noticed.

“Opening this business was not entirely on a whim,” she said. “Our family had been talking about this for some time and tossing ideas around.”

At the time, Grace was living elsewhere but situations arose that made it necessary for her to move to Hillsboro, the town a lot of her family already called home.

“We wanted to offer a retail environment that would appeal to a large span of ages. A place where they could find really cool stuff, no matter who they were or what they were into,” she continued.

Because of the exponential growth of Hillsboro, commercial real estate doesn’t stay on the market long, so when Grace found something available, right downtown, she jumped on it quickly.

“I didn’t even know what I was going to do with the space initially,” she said, “But after a brainstorm with my mother, grandmother, sister and daughter, we came up with a plan.”

Maggie Lyn Mercantile opened in downtown Hillsboro in November 2024, just in time to get a good boost from the holiday shopping season. It’s a cute little shop with a whole lot of “cool” which is exactly what the ladies were going for.

I say ladies, plural, because even though the business is owned by Grace, it’s really a family effort. Her above mentioned sister, mother, daughter, and grandmother are all involved. The name of the business – Maggie Lyn Mercantile – comes from the family too. Grace’s grandmother, Evelyn Lanter, is the Lyn of the name. Maggie is not only Grace’s sister, but was also the name of her great grandmother. You will find one or more of these ladies – and sometimes all of them – working in the store at any given time. Grandma Lyn has been dealing in vintage and antiques for years. She is a collector and has had booths in local antique malls, such as Lisa’s (now Lighthouse Antique Mall).

“She knows the history or back story of many items in the store and it’s so interesting to know this and makes those items just a little more special to those who decide to purchase them.”

Packed with carefully curated treasures that range from vintage, antiques and handmade to thrifted and upcycled, Maggie Lyn Mercantile is a unique store that begs you to take your time and leisurely peruse every nook and cranny for hidden treasures.

Maggie Lyn Mercantile is a mixture of such things, old and new. Grace puts a priority on items from women lead businesses, good charities and saving treasures from the landfill. Items are added weekly to keep the inventory fresh and interesting and includes their own signature candles (made by Hillsboro’s own Alpha Candles), items by Shady Cat Social Club (visit shadycatsocialclub.com for the entire story – it’s really cool!), quilts, furniture, glassware, jewelry, and a plethora of unique and whimsical items. I challenge you to try to leave without buying something.  I have tried – I can’t do it!

In keeping with the uptick of downtown Hillsboro’s dynamics, Maggie Lyn Mercantile is now hosting DIY workshops on Thursday nights… The classes range from beading and card making to a variety of crafty projects to make and take home. Advanced registration is highly suggested as the classes fill fast.

“I love seeing the growth of Hillsboro and being part of it, and I’ve made so many friends in such a short time,” Grace said. “This is a fantastic journey!”

Maggie Lyn Mercantile is located at 213 S. Main Street in downtown Hillsboro. Current hours are Friday through Sunday, 10 am-4pm but Grace hopes to be able to offer expanded hours soon. Thursday night Crafty Classes are from 6-8 pm (fees vary). To keep updated on new arrivals, Crafty Classes and more information on the store in general, find and follow them on Facebook/ Maggie Lyn Mercantile.