SHOP SMALL ANNAPOLIS: THE BEST MILITARY-FRIENDLY SMALL BUSINESSES IN MARYLAND'S STATE CAPITAL
Annapolis, Maryland is more than just the capital of one of the prettiest states on the Eastern Seaboard. It is also home to the United States Naval Academy. It sits nestled perfectly between key military installations across multiple branches, to include the Pentagon, Fort Meade, and more.
As a proud active duty military spouse and native of Annapolis, I am passionate about serving as a champion and voice for locally-owned small businesses that are military friendly. I'm sharing with you my favorite businesses that acknowledge those who serve in our nation’s Armed Forces, those who have served, and their families. These are just a few of my personal favorites:
The Sugar Shoppe
Address:
4A Riggs Avenue
Severna Park, MD
Phone:
(410) 793-7049
Website:
If you haven’t popped into The Sugar Shoppe in historic Severna Park, just minutes from downtown Annapolis, you are missing out!
Co-owned by my two friends Eloise Patton and Jamie Denton, The Sugar Shoppe just opened in July of last year, and has already cemented itself as a local favorite for all things gourmet candy, hostess gifts, birthday parties, and more!
When you walk into the shoppe, you are greeted with a bright cheeriest interior. The walls are lined with clean, beautifully organized self-serve acrylic candy bins.
Candy options range from tried-and-true favorites such as M&Ms and Reese’s to more hard-to-find varieties, such as the infamous “Bon Bon” candies from Sweden that are currently on every teenager's wish list!
Aside from sweets, The Sugar Shoppe also carries a carefully curated collection of fine gifts, jewelry, bags, accessories, candles, blankets, stationary, children’s art supplies, and more.
Want to host the perfect kid’s birthday party, but don’t want to have to clean your own house? Look no further! The Sugar Shoppe has a robust birthday party menu with several packages to make your birthday boy or girl have the best day ever.
It has very quickly become my “go-to” stop for the perfect hostess gift, birthday party gift, or just to satisfy a mid-day craving.
As a way to humbly thank our military community, The Sugar Shoppe proudly offers a generous 15% military discount!
BCA Elite
Email:
admin@bcaelite.com
Phone:
(410) 763-0700
Website:
If you live in or near Annapolis, chances are you know someone or live with someone who plays lacrosse! BCA Elite, otherwise known as “Breakfast Club Academy,” is co-owned by my friends Tracie and Collin Meerholz. It has quickly become the mid-Atlantic region’s most trusted lacrosse and soccer training academy.
BCA Elite started as a small lacrosse training company in 2020. Now, it has organically exploded into a dynamic training academy that services young athletes in Anne Arundel County and beyond. From small group skill and fundamental sessions to speed and agility training and summer camps, BCA Elite now covers all the bases for young lacrosse and soccer players locally.
Coaches include Collin Meerholz himself (a Division 1 lacrosse alum from Towson University), as well as current and former college standouts: Kori Edmonson (University of Maryland), Neve O’Farrall (Maryland), Gracie Driggs (Georgetown), Lexi Dupcak (Maryland), and more.
Our daughters Kendall and Parker (ages 11 and 9) have personally improved their game tremendously thanks to BCA programming over the years.
BCA kindly recognizes military families locally with an ongoing 15% discount on all training packages, camps, and small group sessions! Just use code MILITARY15 at checkout either on their website or in their free app in the app-store, “BCA Elite.”
Lacrosse Unlimited
Address:
167 Jennifer Road
Annapolis MD 21401
Phone:
Email:
https://www.lacrosseunlimited.com/
Speaking of lacrosse, if you need equipment or gear for your BCA lessons, Lacrosse Unlimited off Jennifer Road in Annapolis has you covered from head to toe!
Lacrosse Unlimited services the youngest little ‘laxers,’ all the way to adults who simply love the game. With a large storefront carrying everything you or your player needs from helmets, goggles, sticks, cleats, accessories, and more, Lacrosse Unlimited is the area’s go-to stop for all things lacrosse.
With an assortment of men’s, women’s, and youth retail from reputable brands like GAIT, STX, Nike, and Under Armour, Lacrosse Unlimited has it all. In addition to their robust retail selection, they also offer custom lacrosse head stringing and dying.
I had the pleasure of speaking with store Manager Martin Dandy this week, and he proudly shared that they offer a 10% military discount! Just be sure to mention it at checkout.
All the locals know – turn to the trusted lax experts at Lacrosse Unlimited for all of your lacrosse needs!
Details and Design
Address:
410 Severn Avenue, Unit 114
Annapolis, MD 21403
Website:
Phone:
(443) 782-7968
Looking to revamp your home from the inside out?
Details and Design, owned by my close friend Amanda Chando, is located in the heart of the historic Maritime Republic of Eastport. It is just steps away from historic downtown Annapolis and the state capital building.
Amanda started her career designing in New York City for well-known designers Donna Karan and Vince Camuto. She moved to the Annapolis area with her husband, Ben, to start a family and conceptualized the idea for D&D just before it was founded in 2018. Since then, it has grown and built a trusted reputation as the area’s most sought after full-service residential and commercial design firm
Amanda’s vibe and aesthetic is highly sought after for good reason. The Details & Design website shares:
“Amanda believes that every space should feel lived-in and warm, and she accomplishes this by choosing natural layers and textures to create a versatile foundation that allows for creativity through scale, color, and personalization.”
In addition to a full-service design firm, D&D also operates a shop out of their gorgeous showroom, sprawling a huge commercial space overlooking the Annapolis harbor and waterfront!
The D&D retail shop, Shoppe Details and Design, also available online, is one of my favorite stops for stylish home accessories such as pillows, coffee table books, candles, and more.
Amanda Chando is passionate about recognizing the local military community in Annapolis and proudly offers a 15% discount in both the online and brick-and-mortar shop! Just use code HERO15 at checkout or in-person while shopping.
Mason Mayes
Address:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 113
Annapolis, MD 21403
Website:
Phone:
Looking for the perfect outfit for that upcoming graduation party, Fourth of July get together, or work conference? Look no further than Mason Mayes, conveniently located right next to Details & Design in the heart of Eastport!
Founded and owned by my dear friend and longtime Maryland-native Carrie Kelly, Mason Mayes is a welcomed addition to Annapolis local business scene. Carrie Kelly delivered a boutique that women could turn to for effortless, pulled-together looks and styles to take from the board room, to happy hour, and beyond.
With a diverse brand assortment of apparel and accessories including ASTR the Label, AGOLDE, Hunter Bell, Z Supply, Clare V. and more, Mason Mayes has quickly become a favorite amongst locals.
Coined as delivering “laidback luxury” in Maryland, Mason Mayes was created to help shoppers achieve a sought-after style blend of a California-cool vibe with a polished East-coast touch. With storefronts in both Baltimore and Annapolis, Mason Mayes is staffed with stylists ready to help you pull together the perfect look(s) at a range of price points.
The best part? It's accessible to many all over Maryland and the greater D.C. Metropolitan area.
The two beautiful boutiques boast more than just clothing, too. Each storefront carries a wide range of stylishly curated accessories such as handbags, shoes, jewelry, stationary, and more.
It is one of my favorite local businesses to snag a gift card for my girlfriend's birthdays – because I know they can always put it to good use on something fun! Mason Mayes proudly offers a 10% discount to the military community. Just be sure to mention it at checkout!
Support These Military-Friendly Small Businesses in Annapolis!
As an active duty military spouse and a proud native of Annapolis, my heart is deeply rooted in this vibrant community and the incredible small businesses that call it home.
The businesses I've shared – The Sugar Shoppe, BCA Elite, Lacrosse Unlimited, Details and Design, and Mason Mayes – are not just places where you can find unique products or services; they are pillars of our community that genuinely value and support the military community.
Let's continue to champion these businesses and help them thrive, ensuring Annapolis remains a welcoming and supportive home for all.
Suggested reads:
