Catching a buzz with Asheville Bee Charmer

A little over two decades ago, Kim and Jillian met in Chicago, Illinois. Jillian was a commodity trader, and they were both wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the big city life. The two of them visited Asheville for a long weekend on the recommendation a friend, not knowing they would find their forever home here. It was love at first sight, and after a few more weekend vacations, they were sold on leaving the fast pace and cold temperatures of Chicago behind. Before their move, they had both replaced raw sugar with refined honey in their diets. This passion for honey in the kitchen blossomed into an interest in bees and pollinators in general. In 2014, Asheville Bee Charmer opened its doors in downtown Asheville. Born out of a passion for honey, a curiosity for bees, a love for cooking, and a love of community, the shop has become a staple of the downtown scene.

Tell us a little of the history of Asheville Bee Charmer.

The concept for the business began with a dream of moving out of a large city and into a smaller and slower pace of life coupled with the love for all the different varieties of honey and learning to reduce the amount of white refined sugar in our diets as well as the plight of the honeybees. We opened in 2014 and over these years have evolved into 2 stores in downtown Asheville and an online business.

What is a little known piece of trivia about Asheville Bee Charmer?

The name of our business comes from page 87 of the book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

What are you most proud of?

Imparting information about all of the varieties of honey and where they come from as well as the plight of the honeybees, and that you don’t need to be a bee keeper to save the bees.

Share the best advice you’ve gotten for starting a small business.

Stay in your lane. That, and take a few classes. We took ours at Mountain Biz Works and hired a business consultant. Be willing to adapt especially during difficult times.

What’s next on the horizon?

We delayed the opening of our mead tasting bar due to COVID-19, but look forward to getting it open as soon as possible.

Our tagline is “Together, We are More”. How does that apply to your business or what does it mean to you?

Setting down roots to grow and branches to reach out and collaborate with other businesses here in town to help support each other. Along with a stellar team of worker bees that we employ to help keep our hive humming. A hive can not exist with just one bee, it takes a team of like minded people in our hive to pull together and make this small but sweet business thrive.

See what all the buzz is about

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38 Battery Park Ave.

Hours

Monday, Thursday and Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.