Our Story

If you know Hive, you know we are built on a belief that small businesses can do more than sell goods. They can create connection, belonging, and a sense of place. For the past few years on South Tacoma Way, we welcomed thousands of customers, supported incredible local makers, and hosted workshops, events, and local makers markets that sparked joy, creativity, and friendships.

This winter, we had to close our original shop location due to circumstances beyond our control. In September 2025, a sewage incident inside our store, caused by our landlords' workers, forced an immediate shutdown, professional remediation, and thousands of dollars in unexpected costs. The aftermath required legal support simply to advocate for our small business. Shortly after, we were informed that our lease would not be renewed, which means we had to immediately vacate the space and close our doors. While this chapter was incredibly hard, we chose to look forward, to a future where Hive hopefully continued, evolved, and thrived.

We have now re-opened our doors on South 11th in Downtown Tacoma. This required significant work: a full build-out to transform an empty shell into a home for small makers, eco-friendly refills, and community. And a couple of weeks before we opened, our little shop in renovation was broken into one night and a lot of stuff was taken, including a lot of technology and products. Can you say UGH on top of everything else!!! 


Why We Need Your Help
While Hive has always tried to operate responsibly and sustainably, this transition and break-in came with real costs to our family and we could use some help in getting back on our feet. To do this, we set up a GoFundMe to help with:
  • Costs from the September sewage incident (product loss, downtime with shopping having to close) and then our resulting closure in December
  • Legal fees incurred while advocating for our business and negotiating our exit with our landlords, who chose to operate in a way that was not honoring to their tenants
  • Build-out and construction costs for our new Hive location on 11th 
  • The investment needed to expand our local maker connection and sustainability initiatives

What the new Hive is now...
Our next chapter is even more intentional than before. At our new location, we will continue to:
  • Partner with even more local Tacoma and PNW-based artists, makers, and small businesses
  • Grow our "Refillery" - offering bulk household + personal-care items to reduce packaging waste and care for our city and planet
  • Continue to champion a slower, kinder, more communal way of shopping - supporting makers, not mass-production
Hive is not just a shop. It’s a continued movement toward local resilience and community care. And we want you to be part of it.

If You’ve Ever Believed in Hive
If you’ve taken a workshop at our old space, brought a friend to visit, shopped with us before the holidays, or simply love seeing small businesses make Tacoma better, your support today, big or small, will have a direct impact on Hive continuing to exist in this community.

We do not take asking for help lightly. This is humbling, and vulnerable, and necessary. Hive was never meant to be a place that existed because of one person. It exists because of all of us. And together, we can rebuild it.

Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hive-reopen


With gratitude, hope, and determination...
Michele & Family