Jamie Merida's decision to open Bountiful in Easton, Md., a town he describes as “city-sophistication without the downside” grew from a desire to settle down in one place for awhile. The store opened first as a high-end antiques shop, added a gift shop in 2000, and expanded to its current size of 18,000 square feet in October 2006.

Merida, who grew up in Louisville, Ky., came to know Maryland while he was training as a classical pianist at Baltimore's Peabody Institute of Music in the mid '80s. After earning his degree, he spent a number of years working with his father, an arts and antiques dealer. Eventually, he tired of the extensive travel to East Coast antiques shows and decided to settle in one place for awhile.

He credits much of the store's success to a supportive customer base of upper-income empty nesters and second homeowners — the weekend residents from Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia who shop Bountiful's extensive selection of coastal, traditional, English Country and French Country accessories, furniture, tabletop, lighting, wall decor, gifts and antiques. Some are mixing with pieces from their earlier lives, others want everything new. The look is understated luxury, high-end finishes, high-technology, nothing flashy or showy. Merida describes it as “Long Island Stanford White … cedar shingles, English or French countryside.”

The floor is refreshed with an ever-changing selection of traditional, coastal, English Country and French Country gifts, furnishings and accessories. In recent years, with the addition of three interior designers, a flooring department and an expanding fabric and wallpaper library, Bountiful has earned a reputation as a one-stop shop for all interior design needs.

“We closed the Naples store in 2007 as the market began to soften in Florida and began to focus on making the Easton store a destination location,” he said. “We did this partially by creating several stores-within-a-store. For example, The Gardens at Bountiful captures the market for silk floral, pre-made arrangements, fountains, small outdoor items and accessories. Bling at Bountiful is a small boutique of designer-look jewelry and handbags. The Library is merchandised with cool coffee table books, cookbooks and books that you don't find in other stores. The 'stores' change almost as often as the merchandise. It keeps the whole store looking fresh and continually provides new surprises for our customers.”

He also hired three interior designers and added a flooring department. “We have tried to make our store a one-stop location for all interior design needs — with designers on staff, the largest and most complete fabric and wallpaper library in the area, a complete selection of carpet, tile and flooring, and a large selection of case goods and upholstery available for immediate delivery and special order.”

Merida merchandises the inventory in specialized “stores within a store” to increase Bountiful's appeal as a destination location for the area's second homeowners, retirees and weekend visitors. Chesapeake and coastal influences are depicted in crab, waterfowl and sailboat motifs and vintage nautical posters and signage.

One thing that's sure to continue is the exceptional customer service. “We have a try-before-you-buy policy that allows customers to take items on approval or we will deliver large pieces of furniture for them to try in their space,” Merida said. The store offers custom gift-wrapping in signature toile-patterned bags and strives to provide the same level of high quality assistance for each purchase, no matter how big or small. “We also use fun and inventive merchandising and are constantly looking for new, interesting gifts and accessories that you can't find in other stores.”

Advertising is done through local print media. The Bountiful Web site is updated monthly, and the store sends out three or four newsletters a year. Merida also participates in and hosts fund-raising events, including his annual Holiday Kick-Off which benefits a local charity and has become a must-do event for hundreds of people in the community. “The store is decorated from the rafters to the farthest corners with over four tons of holiday decorations for purchase,” he said.