Bee Haven Honey
Sam & Scott Zurek Gordon, Co-Owners of Bee Haven
Sam Zurek Gordon’s passion for beekeeping was inspired by Sue Monk Kidd’s enchanting novel The Secret Life of Bees. Sam had also read a book about keeping goats, and while she considered it, she realized that bees would be easier to manage.
Sam purchased her first two beehives in 2005, but what started out as a hobby quickly grew into something much bigger. “Two hives suddenly became five and five became ten,” says Sam.
Several years and many bee stings later, Sam and her husband now maintain many hives and manage their own business, Bee Haven Honey. Bee Haven Honey is a home-based family business with a passion for providing naturally healthy products from the hives.
Bee Haven Honey originally began in the Farmers Market and then moved into the rollup doors in 2008 where they shared a space with Blue Oven Bakery. Sam loves the energy of the market and connecting with all of her customers. “Everyone is our customer, from the locals to the out-of-town visitors from all over,” says Sam. “Findlay Market is such an anchor to Cincinnati.”
In 2019, Bee Haven Honey took the leap and moved into their own storefront on Elm St, and while Sam misses the energy of the rollup doors, she feels that they have more visibility now. “It was a scary move, but it’s much easier to manage,” says Sam.
While Bee Haven was in the rollup doors, Sam would have to run home to make the products and then run back to the market. Now, she has a worker bee area in the back of the shop to make lip balms, candles and other products. Sam not only pulls honey from her own beehive, but also from other local beekeepers and around the country.
Sam’s goal for Bee Haven Honey is to keep it manageable. “So many people want you to get bigger and bigger and open more stores, and we just enjoy doing what we’re doing right here. We don’t want to spread ourselves too thin because we have to take time to take care of the bees and our blueberry farm,” says Sam.
During Pollinator Week in June, Bee Haven Honey took the opportunity to hand out pollinator-friendly seeds and educate others about the importance of pollinators. “Don’t spray your yard. Just let the dandelions grow and help our pollinators!” says Sam.
Published July 2022