What's the Buzz?

Founding

Beehive Co-op opened in Atlanta in 2004 to rave reviews.  Atlanta Magazine reported, "It's a simple concept, brilliantly executed: Gather the cream of Atlanta's artisan crop and rent them booths in a former gallery space for a small fee plus four hours of work in the store per week. The result? A well-edited collection of affordable, locally produced goods in an atmosphere with the thrill of a bazaar but the tidy merchandising and "cool quotient" of your favorite boutique".

     
Atlanta Opening Party 2004

Beehive was conceived by Petra Geiger, a graphic designer by training who struggled to find an appropriate outlet for her handmade handbags and stationery line. After meeting many other local artisans in the same predicament, and with the image of antique malls swirling in her mind, Petra sensed that setting up a co-op of dedicated designers was a perfect solution for both the designers and for customers seeking one-of-a-kind items. "I started Beehive because I saw a need for a new entrepreneurial model, one rooted in community and collaboration," says Petra. "I also felt a real desire among people I talked to for an alternative to the prevailing mall culture."

After re-locating to New York in December of 2007, Petra quickly realized that she missed the spirit of the Atlanta co-op. The community of local designers, the support and camaraderie were things that after a few years she had taken for granted in Atlanta. So, pretty soon after the kids were settled and the boxes were unpacked, Petra began to look for a new beehive space in New York.

Mt. Kisco became an obvious choice for it's thriving retail community and central location in Westchester. Luckily, she stumbled upon a very cute, retro space on Main Street and quickly knew it had just what she needed to create a vibrant little hub for local artisans and designers. To date the co-op has ben well received and embraced by the community. In 2009 it was voted a "Best of Westchester" by Westchester Magazine!