By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf
When Teresa McMahan spotted a “for lease” sign on a historic building in Paoli, she saw it as a nudge. She and her daughter, Lily, had always talked about opening a retail shop together. It was time.
In 2019, the duo opened Lily’s Mercantile & Makery, a home decor and gift shop, in the former Abel Contemporary Gallery building (now Seven Acre Dairy Company). The mother- daughter team each handle various parts of the business: Teresa (shown left) manages the business and does the buying, and Lily tackles the visual merchandising and creative aspects.
In 2022, McMahan and her husband, Cory, purchased the former Zazen Gallery building a few blocks down and moved the shop. The couple added a loft, reclaimed oak ceiling beams and wood floors, and infused the entire space with a rustic-boho vibe.
Teresa says she sees a lot of locals and tourists who are looking for unique gifts. Baby clothes and gifts, faux florals and candles always sell well. (Lollia’s heavenly bath and body collection are personal favorites, along with Finch + Fennel’s seasonings. It’s hard to leave the shop without something.)
The “makery” in the name is a nod to Lily’s artistic creations for sale. Find a few of her paintings as well as hand-painted cow skulls.
Teresa says she’s grateful to own a business with her daughter.
“I can’t think of a better person to work with than my daughter. We get along really well. To get to work together every day — it’s very special,” she says.
6896 Paoli Rd., Belleville, lilysinpaoli.com
