For Eclectic Collectors, Green Thumbs & A Cozy Family Day
Six( really cool) local influencers share their ideal Charm City itineraries.
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For Eclectic Collectors, Green Thumbs & A Cozy Family Day
CHRIS HELLER AND RYAN SIROIS HELLER
Creator
Six( really cool) local influencers share their ideal Charm City itineraries.
As thrilling as it is to explore a new destination, deciding what to do while you’ re there can be a daunting task. Trip planning is an art— sifting through hundreds of potential accommodations, attractions and restaurants to find what speaks to you. This story is designed to make that process a little easier by introducing
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you to six creatives and changemakers who keep Charm City’ s heart beating, from artists and entrepreneurs to restaurateurs and marketers. Each one has their own vibe and idea of what makes a perfect day in Baltimore. Simply pick the one that best suits your style and start exploring!
Entrepreneurs Chris Heller and Ryan Sirois Heller are pros at seizing opportunities. They are the founder and art director, respectively, of Helium— a boutique branding agency— but had dreamed of opening a home and garden shop for years. This dream was realized shortly after the couple and their children moved to Baltimore in 2019, when Heller came across a charming brownstone in Bolton Hill. The fact that the commercial building wasn’ t even for sale didn’ t stop him from knocking on the door and asking if he could buy it. His bravery paid off: The Hellers purchased the space and opened the first iteration of The Margaret Cleveland, named for Heller’ s grandmother, in October 2021.
Less than two months later, Heller took another chance and purchased Walther Gardens in Northeast Baltimore, a three-quarter acre of land with 12 small buildings and the oldest continuously operating snowball stand in the country. He spent the next seven weeks planting, painting and completely renovating the space while sourcing and inventorying thousands of home goods— from kitchen wares to design books and children’ s toys— to create the majestic The Margaret Cleveland at Walther Gardens & Nursery. Under the Hellers’ creative direction, each of those 12 buildings took on a new personality, becoming a pantry, Christmas shop, succulent room, tropical greenhouse,“ little gardener” shed and more. There’ s also The Gallery Mystic, conceptualized by Sirois Heller, where visitors will find tarot cards, candles and a gallery.
Reflecting on the Hellers’ creative journeys, Sirois Heller says,“ It’ s about living from the heart and throwing your soul into everything you do because that’ s your mark in this world. That’ s what fuels us.”
30 BALTIMORE. ORG