DOVER — The Hive on Loockerman is starting to bustle as it prepares to officially open its business center and meeting space this week.
Chevonne Boyd, owner of the store at 28 W. Loockerman St., has been waiting for this moment for some time.
“Oh, it’s been a really long time coming,” she said, “and we’re really looking forward to welcoming the community to The Hive and showcasing our products and services and how we can best support small businesses and nonprofits looking to start up in Dover.”
Open houses are scheduled for Wednesday, June 5th from noon to 3pm and Thursday from 3pm to 7pm, followed by a ribbon cutting with the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 7th at 1pm.
A grand opening ceremony open to the public will then be held on Saturday, June 8th, followed by pop-up shopping from 11am to 3pm.
“We will have a lot of local products on display and introducing their wares on Saturday so I encourage everyone to come along. Providing a venue for other businesses to sell their products is what I am most proud of,” Boyd said.
“It's a pop-up shopping experience and we'll have eight local traders showcasing their wares on the day and we want the community to come out and support them.”
The Hive will host an open mic concert presented by Saga City Sound on June 4 from 7-10 p.m., as well as a “Glory Pages” gospel brunch on June 9 from 3-5 p.m.
The “Pure Laughs” clean comedy show scheduled for Friday had to be canceled.
For Boyd, it's exciting to begin hosting a regular series of events at her site, a members-only business and events center aimed at giving entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders the space and resources to nurture their businesses.
“It's definitely been busy coordinating events and getting the physical state of The Hive ready,” she said. “We've had contractors come in and out and we've been getting the space ready to welcome the public, so we're excited and we hope people love The Hive as much as we do.”
The 2,493-square-foot ground-floor facility features 1,600 square feet of open space for easy configuration of work areas, a 103-inch recessed display screen, four 55-inch smart monitors, built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and two unisex bathrooms.
“This space is designed to be a launching pad for small business owners who really need support to get noticed in their community,” Boyd said. “A lot of people are moving to hybrid working arrangements, working from home and we've seen the small business sector boom over the last few years, especially with COVID.
“But in our region, it's hard to find affordable space that helps bridge the gap between small business owners and the constituents they want to serve. That's what we're here for.”
For example, The Hive hopes to offer flash shopping for small businesses and boutiques, photography and video recording sessions for freelancers, artist exhibitions, day-long workshops for life coaches and instructors, and space for nonprofit board meetings, holiday celebrations and corporate conferences.
Boyd added that each upcoming event will provide a unique opportunity to explore The Hive, engage with local leaders and entrepreneurs, and enjoy refreshments provided by local eateries.
Visitors might be tempted to call her “Queen Bee.”
“I'm a workaholic, and my husband (Cheston Boyd) and I teach our kids to be hands-on and figure out how to make things happen for themselves,” she said.
“I really fell in love with the concept of The Hive, a place where people can come together and get things done.”
Contact staff writer Mike Finney at Contact him at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
Follow @MikeFinneyDSN on X.
