the beehive's new home
To our lovely beehive customer family,
A BRIEF HISTORY:
This past April 16th, we celebrated 16 years at our space in Edgewood Retail District. In that time, our customer community has continued to support us through ups and down, through covid-19 closures, and through us moving from a space where designers work in-store to one where it is a simple family-run operation that still focuses on local design.
CHA-CHA-CHA-CHA-CHANGES
Last month, we learned that our 6th landlord at Edgewood Retail District wanted to raise our rent approximately 100% to stay in our existing location, and are doing so to all businesses in the complex. While they offered us a potential new space located above Willy's, we would be forced to completely renovate the space, which would mean months out of commission while creating a new space for the store. Additionally, we do not think a top-floor location is appropriate for a retail space, so we politely declined.
the beehive is a community, first and foremost. We are an integrated community of local, regional and national handmade designers who sell in individualized spaces in the store, as a collective artist community. Knowing our designers and having a relationship with them is an integral part of the success of the store, and one we will carry through so long as we are in operation. When we moved into Edgewood, the street we're currently on - Caroline Street - was supposed to be a haven for local small businesses. For a short time, it was. Over the years, landlord after landlord, the priorities for the investment owners of the complex changed, ushering in more franchise and corporate businesses for the public. While that is normal in a big complex, it is not the best place for a business like ours - with an unusual business model - to operate.
OUR INTENSIVE JOURNEY TO OUR NEW RETAIL HOME
So, since late March, we searched and searched (and searched) for locations in the area that would suit all of our needs: a small/micro business concentration in a single area (where people appreciate small business), longevity with the existence/survival of those small businesses past Covid-19 (shows strength in the shoppers and community in the area), a true community feel, and great foot traffic that will provide opportunity for growth. While we're sad we had to wait until now to announce this to the public, we've finally found that place, and we're ECSTATIC to say that place is Glenwood Park.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? LAST DAY TO SHOP FOR GIFTS UNTIL OUR NEW LOCATION OPENS IS SUNDAY, APRIL 26TH
We're in the process of finalizing a new long-term lease for this incredible community filled with wonderful restaurants, wine shops, and boutiques, right on the beltline (which is where we'll also be!). That process should be done this week. As a result, WE'LL BE CLOSING OUR DOORS ON APRIL 27TH TO MOVE THE STORE BY APRIL 30TH. We're currently in process of still bringing in new wonderful products so you can shop for Mother's Day, teachers, friends and family through THIS SUNDAY. Although we'll be actively packing the store, there is still lots to shop, and we'll be holding sales on all remaining beehive-brand products. Our designers are coming in every day through the 28th to retrieve their wares to participate in shows and sell individually until the store reopens.
Additionally WE'LL BE HOLDING GIVEAWAYS ON SUPPLIES, DISPLAYS, AND OTHER ITEMS WE'VE ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS, AND HOLDING DEEP SALES ON ALL BEEHIVE BRANDS AND HIGHER-END FIXTURES.
How do you learn what's on sale? Check our INSTAGRAM (@thebeehiveatl) account DAILY to see what's new in the store for sale (NORTH/SOUTH for 40% off starting tomorrow, anyone?), what's available for the free-free, and announcements that you need to know about our reopening.
WE INTEND TO BUILD OUT OUR NEW SPACE QUICKLY AND REOPEN FOR MAY WORKSHOPS IN THAT SPACE IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET APPROVED FOR A NO-DEMO LICENSE QUICKLY. Otherwise, we'll contact all class registrants with the location for their May sessions until we can hold them in our new space (fingers crossed we'll be in the space and ready for workshops by the 6th!).
Our new space is a bright, big, happy space located on Bill Kennedy Way, right across from the beltline, and will feature our local designers' wares wonderfully. While parking in Glenwood Park can be a bare at peak times, we're ensuring our customers have validated parking so you can come in, linger, and enjoy your shopping with no parking fees.
Get ready for updates in our look, and an even more community vibe. We're saying goodbye to a couple of long-term vendor friends, and are welcoming new brands that we know you all are going to ABSOLUTELY love! We can't contain our excitement for all to come and would love for you all to join us for the progress as we quickly work along.
If you want to follow along on this journey, be sure to join us on Instagram for frequent updates. We plan to have a grand reopening celebration with our new community and neighbors in late May/early June, and will have a soft opening for shopping before then. As always, shopping will still happen 24/7 online for beehive brands and those vendors willing to do drop-shipping in the interim. We can't thank you all enough for coming and shopping in this next week to support us through this move, and look forward to hosting all of you at our new retail home.
