diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index d56dbcf..71f977b 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ class MerchantProfile(BaseModel):
 
 
 class MerchantConfig(MerchantProfile):
-    event_id: str | None = None
+    event_id: Optional[str] = None
     sync_from_nostr: bool = False
-    active: bool = False
-    restore_in_progress: bool | None = False
+    # TODO: switched to True for AIO demo; determine if we leave this as True
+    active: bool = True
+    restore_in_progress: Optional[bool] = False
 
 
 class CreateMerchantRequest(BaseModel):