As soon as it was announced that the beloved coffee truck Honey’s Coffee Co was going to have a brick and mortar in downtown Glasgow, KY, I was invested. I followed every photo, every reel, every news item. I couldn’t wait to see how this historic building would be turned into a coffee shop. Excitement built for what was sure to be an incredible location and I imagined myself taking photos there. Little did I know then how much of an impact it would have on the local community. Or what an amazing person the owner was. I’m not sure I can put into words just how much The Hive has impacted our lives and the lives of those in the community, but I will do my best.
First, I would like to show the face behind The Hive. Savannah will readily admit that she doesn’t do it on her own. It takes a whole village to make this coffee shop run smoothly. But she is definitely the visionary. She is also the heart behind the community feel. Whether that be in the causes The Hive supports, including the Barren River Animal Welfare Association, The Boys and Girls Club, The Good Wife post mastectomy care and many others. Or the local businesses she has partnered with to bring eco-conscious, safe products to sell such as Thornless Thistle flowers and room sprays, Mira Motte facial and body care and Stovall Crossing Candles. All of this brought right to our fingertips because this strong, supportive and kind woman wants to better her community.
The Hive isn’t just another coffee shop. It’s a place for this community to come together. Every time we walk in, we see people we know. Reminds me of the theme song from Cheers “I want to go where everybody knows my name and they’re always glad you came.” Athletes are coming from their daily workout for a quick pick me up. Parents are bringing in their kids for a fun date. Business meetings are set up. Whole families are popping in before a trip out of town.
As a husband and wife team, what I really love to see is when couples come to The Hive to carve out a few minutes of alone time for themselves. And there are several who make this a daily thing. Life can get hectic. Work can be demanding. Everything piles up and wears us out. And so…coffee. With the person you love the most in this world. Like this next couple. They sit in the same seat every time. Their little regular date at the table under the stairs.
But just as much as I enjoy seeing couples, I also love seeing parents and grandparents with children. The joys of looking out over the downtown square. Pulling games down off the shelf and playing with them. The wide-eyed stares into the bakery case trying to choose which treat to get that day. So much wonder and imagination. If you stop and look around, it almost plays out like a scene from a movie.
Maybe you’re wondering what a child would get in a coffee shop. Well now is time to introduce you to one of the amazing drinks that The Hive has named after someone in the community. This is Emilia. She is Savannah and Mikey’s niece. When she would visit their home, they gave her milk with homemade chocolate syrup. Emilia said it was magic. So Emilia’s Magic Milk was created. Topped with whipped cream and a few dashes of sprinkles just for fun. The magic it creates is different for every child and the giggles come at no extra charge.
Another of The Hive’s famous drinks is the Lydia Latte. It’s a cookie butter latte that’s ALMOST as sweet as Lydia herself. Hers is one of my favorite stories behind the drinks’ names. She’d been a loyal fan all the way back to the Honey’s Coffee days. She knew their schedule by heart. Lydia always showed up to support them. Always a bright spot in their day and her enthusiasm was contagious. There was no doubt, a drink HAD to be named in her honor.
Speaking of lattes, The Good Wife is one of the most requested drinks at this delicious coffee shop. It’s a coconut and vanilla chai latte. It’s named after Trish, the owner of The Good Wife Lingerie and Mastectomy Boutique. She is another bright light in the community. This incredible woman has made it her mission to empower other women and bring breast cancer awareness to the fore. She has given not only hope but also resources to women who have been through this difficult time. She balances kindness with boss babe. The drink is sugar and spice and everything nice, just like Trish!
As I met members of the community, Derron was the only person I could immediately match to his namesake drink. His confidence was easy to recognize. He is the president and founder of Swagger Institute where he teaches people how to find confidence, show up fully and be successful both in their work and their lives. Derron has helped The Hive tremendously. He has instilled his passion for leadership, customer service and how to show up for your community. From all of this was born The Swagger, a hot honey apple chai. A drink you won’t soon forget, just like Derron.
There aren’t enough good words to describe the person behind the Abby Matcha. She is a beautiful, very kind soul. But she is also the mama bear, the protector. There is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep the business moving forward while also making sure the people behind the business are ok. And probably the most organized person I have ever met, the one who kept everything straight, made the appointments, responded to the emails. I had talked to Abby countless times before I ever had the pleasure of meeting her in person. I had heard so many kind words from Savannah about her. And she lived up to every last one of them. This drink is an iced passion fruit matcha. Powerful yet refreshing. Very appropriate.
I think one of the most beautiful drinks made at The Hive is The Garden Girl. That’s extremely appropriate because everything that Ashley touches is beautiful. Her colorful hand-tied bouquets from Thornless Thistle can be found in the case to your left as soon as you walk in. And the glorious book shelves that cover the right wall were designed by Ashley as well. Every piece perfectly placed. This drink needed to be beautiful to match everything else Ashley’s name is attached to. Not just in what she designs but in how she makes you feel. A matcha latte with vanilla, strawberry and cold foam. Sweet, grounded, and effortlessly charming—just like Ashley.
And last, but certainly not least by any means is the man behind The Royse. Many know Henry Royse as the mayor of Glasgow. But there is so much more. He is warm, approachable and comforting with a fantastic sense of humor. Sharp, witty and full of energy. He will meet you with a smile and is always looking for ways to help. The drink is a chai latte with espresso. It can make you feel relaxed and inspired at the same time. And that’s Royse.
So now you’ve met the people behind the drinks. This is just one tiny proof that this Glasgow KY coffee shop is all about community. There is so much more I can say about this incredible place. There are literally dozens of stories such as the retired preacher who sits here still writing sermons in case he needs to fill in, the man who comes in at the same time every day to sip tea and watch passersby in the square, the ladies who get together to play Mahjong or the kids who come all dressed up before their formals to take advantage of the beauty that is The Hive.
I could talk about how the sipping society saves both the environment and your pocketbook. Or how one of the drinks has actual edible gold dust. Or how they have a generous loyalty program. But I’ll let the rest of the photos do the talking. If you haven’t been to The Hive, go check it out. And if you have, tell me…what’s your favorite part?
Thank you to Savannah and the whole Hive team for letting us be part of this photo project. We are grateful to have you in the community!
