Chel Bella
66 SOUTH ST., HINGHAM, CHELBELLA.COM
Lisa Lennon had dreamed of owning a clothing boutique ever since she was a little girl. While studying for her master’s degree in Australia, she worked at a women’s clothier in Sydney and fell in love with the simplicity of Australian style. Lennon later developed a business plan
to open a store in the states, but eventually took a job in another industry. When Chel Bella, a staple in the South Shore style scene, came up for sale, this loyal client jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s surreal to be living out your dream and living your best life in your 40s,” says Lennon who has a sophisticated style that is both feminine and fun. She favors high-end denims, tailored blazers and bespoke furs. As the shop’s third successor, Lennon is working to revive femininity. She wants women to feel confident after a styling session and believes fashion is our armor in the bustle of daily life.
Chel Bella caters to the fashion-conscious, with brands that are top-notch and everything showcased with a measure of elegance. You’ll find such noteworthy labels as: L’Agence, Jonathan Simkhai, Ulla Johnson, and Mackage. Within minutes, Lennon and her team can pull a black-tie look for an event or create a capsule wardrobe for a weekend getaway.
“That’s our core,” says Lennon. “That’s what we excel in.”
La Petite Maison
142 NORTH ST., HINGHAM, LAPETITEMAISON.US
Nanette Walsh has been curating fine French-inspired goods for more than two decades. This smartly dressed proprietor travels abroad annually to select unique pieces at French markets for her fine boutique in the heart of Hingham’s tony town square.
“I try to create a feel that is different from other stores,” says Walsh—a Hingham resident who worked in corporate sales and marketing before daring to do something different. “I wanted to do something more creative. I fell in love with France and it made a huge influence on me,” she says.
Walsh’s first shop location opened in 1998. Five years later, she outgrew that space and moved to North Street. When a neighboring shop closed its doors in 2008, she expanded her store to become the spectacular gift shop locals know and love today.
The shop is chic and perfectly Parisian. Large windows are styled seasonally—tempting passers-by to step inside and check out what’s new. Display cases carry artisanal goods that are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your home or wardrobe—think woven baskets, timeless jewelry and delicate knitwear. The gift selection is expansive and includes treasures as far as the eye can see. There are fine linens, baby items and exquisite antiques just to name a few.
“When French people visit the shop, they remark about the items and how the space brings them back home to France,” says Walsh.
The Hermit on Green Street
3 GREEN ST., HINGHAM THEHERMITONGREENSTREET.COM
Artist Rachael Mott moved to Hingham two years ago, hoping to expand her eco-friendly paper company, Red and Wolf. When she walked by the vacancy tucked away at 3 Green Street, she thought it would be the perfect spot to bring the community together while showcasing rarities in art, antiques and everything in between.
“This is a space to break away from isolation,” says Mott, who opened her shop in May of 2024. The shop’s name, The Hermit on Green Street, is a nod to the hermit crabs at neighboring Bathing Beach and also its off-the-beaten-path location. She
explains that although hermit crabs tend to burrow in their shell, they thrive in large colonies—similar to the way many people have grown inward over the years.
The shop is warm and inviting—beckoning you to sit and stay a while. There’s a thoughtful mix of unique art (Mott’s illustrations included), secondhand books, vintage decor and antiques.
Items found in the shop hail from New England-based small businesses including artwork by Laurel Greenfield and Mia Cross. “I love paintings that have a beautiful story,” says Mott who enjoys telling visitors about the pieces that illuminate her walls.
Mott offers an impressive collection of secondhand books that are beautifully catalogued. “These books have all lived a life
before coming here, which I really love,” she says.
The bottom four shelves are arranged by genre—think history, fiction and poetry. The middle shelf is where it gets fun, with a color coding system designed to help shoppers match a book’s
specific color to their home decor. Lastly, the upper shelves are dedicated to display book sets and collections. Bring in photos of your space and Mott will help you pick out books or items
to bring personality to your bookshelves. The Hermit on Green Street also hosts regular events, such as paint nights and floral arrangement classes.
Thacher and Spring
109 NORTH ST., HINGHAM (HOME STORE)
288 MAIN ST., HINGHAM (KIDS STORE) THACHERANDSPRING.COM
We all long to make our house a home and that’s exactly what Stephanie Greenstein is helping her community to do. Thacher and Spring is a home decor and gift store that flaunts a luxe, not-so-nautical coastal look.
“I’m inspired by the beach and the coast,” says Greenstein, who recently relocated her business to a spacious retail space at109North Street after a nearly four-year residency on Main Street.
Since she and her team weren’t ready to completely bid adieu to their first baby, they decided to transform the North Street storefront into a charming children’s boutique.
Greenstein, who also provides home decorating services and styling services to clients, had designed a few baby nurseries while working at her first store, so opening a kids store was a
seamless next step. The edited collection at Thacher and Spring Kids strikes a balance between prim and proper attire and pima cotton pajamas. You’ll also find dainty smocked dresses, embroidered tops and darling nursery decor.
The beachy-chic aesthetic of Thacher and Spring Home complements the space’s wide floor boards, impressive light fixtures and large windows. The shop is filled with thoughtfully- procured items that make great housewarming gifts—think fun barware and cool cookbooks. Textured picture frames, linen books and lush pillows are also favorites.
“My goal is to find items that are different, that stay true to our style,” says Greenstein.
ASSEMBLY
24 NORTH ST., HINGHAM (HIS)
88 NORTH ST., HINGHAM (HERS)
ASSEMBLYSHOWROOM.COM
Matt Gallagher knows fashion. The west coast transplant went to fashion school in Los Angeles and always wanted to open a clothing store in a great neighborhood with strong community ties. Hingham—a quaint, coastal town where everybody knows your name–fit the bill.
Assembly first opened in 2018, offering an edited selection of menswear and womenswear in a relaxed atmosphere. Gallagher chose the name Assembly because of its meaning— people gathering for a common purpose. When an opportunity to open a second store materialized, Gallagher segued from a co-ed space to two distinct shops. The budding entrepreneur has scaled up his retail footprint in recent years, also adding stores in Cohasset and Duxbury.
The vibe at Assembly His (the men’s boutique) is cool and calculated, but with a twist. The space showcases elegant sport coats and dress shirts, arranged in neat, refined rows. Sweaters and jeans are stacked atop wood shelves. It’s not fussy and you feel like you’re at home.
“Denim and knitwear is what we focus heavily on—it’s the most used category in the closet,” says Gallagher, who offers denim brands like Citizens of Humanity and Paige. Assembly His also carries a small selection of barware—remnants of his former kitchen and home concept.
Assembly Hers flaunts the same laid-back style, but with a feminine touch. Wood tables display stylish denims, lush cashmeres and seasonally appropriate essentials. The decor is kept minimal, so the merchandise can take center stage. Premier brands Agolde and Citizens of Humanity are popular on the women’s denim circuit. Assembly offers wardrobe styling, as well as, private shopping appointments in both the amen’s and women’s shop.
Gallagher focuses on the quality and longevity of the brands he sells. He’s not into trends, unless there’s a long shelf life in your closet. “We’re not fast fashion,” he says. “We’re not trying to hit just a moment. We sell things that stay with you for a really long time.”
