“If you set your mind right and study these bees, you can see the hand of God in all that they do.”
~ Roy Hightower
One of my most wonderful finds on our trip thru Lowcountry was the Savannah Bee Company located in the heart of historic Savannah on West Broughton Street.
You have most likely seen and tasted their products as you can find them from Williams-Somona to Dean & DeLuca.
Walking into Savannah Bee Company’s flagship store, however, raised my appreciation of their “honey obsession” to a whole new level! It was like stepping into a “Disney World” for designers - it drips and ooozes creativity from the moment you approach the store! When I helped design Seau’s Restaurant in San Diego, it was my goal to bring the same kind of attention to detail to that space. I’m passionate about attention to detail as a key element of design.
At first, you might wonder what this post has to do with decorating, design, etc. for your home. I think it’s a great example of how paying attention to small details helps to create a warm and welcoming space. There is great use of texture in the space – it all works so that what could feel like a cave or bowling alley instead feels very natural. So I hope you’ll take away a few ideas you can incorporate into your own decorating.
The exterior signage and door designs incorporates a honeycomb pattern - a simple, effective way to communicate the nature of the store immediately!
Once you enter the store, there is a “tasting bar” to your left and a beautiful display of their artisanal honey and other bee products on the right.
The concept of a tasting bar, in a honey store, is novel concept. I love how, in essense, they have taken the trappings of a wine tasting and applied it to their honey. Tasting IS believing & buying!
At the tasting bar your “honey guide” takes you through their honey “varietals, textures, levels of sweetness, background notes, and suggested food pairings” – just like a wine tasting in Napa! I think it’s such a novel twist! It certainly adjusted my perception of honey – it’s so much more than gooey sweetness.
Your honey tasting starts with their Tupelo varietal which they identify as the “gold standard” by which all other honey is measured. Here’s there description: “Tupelo’s flavors arrive as a series of distinct impressions, a parade of melon, crème brulée, butter, and dried pear with a long smooth finish.”
Doesn’t that sound like how you would descirbe a wine???? I’m just SO impressed with the creativity and approach they are taking with their product.
And LOOK at this display of artisanal honey! The wine-like bottles, the back lighting and the repetition of shape makes it almost art like.
Every aspect of the store’s design has been well thought out and very creatively executed.
I was told by our honey guide that the owner and two of the guys who work at the store made the displays and various pieces and parts.
Because a large part of Savannah Bee’s mission is built on education into the fascinating world of honey and the honeybee, their flagship store features an amazing bee skep {right} which is an interactive “learning hive” filled with books, toys, video and facts about honey and the bee {I actually ducked into the skep – it was so cool!}.
The store also has a theater area with daily viewings of documentaries highlighting the importance and the plight of the honeybee.
The store is in one of Savannah’s beautiful old buildings that has great features like a beautiful tin ceiling and stone wall which reinforces the store’s natural, connected-to-the-earth concept.
We bought honey and t-shirts {oh, their t-shirts are organic cotton and SO snuggly and soft!}
If you find yourself in Savannah, you MUST make time to stop into the Savannah Bee! As you can see from my photos, the store is a very warm and welcoming place.
Don’t you think Savannah Bee products would make a great gift? I do too! So check back later for our next Lowcountry give away – it’s going to ”bee” wonderful!
Remember – BEE HAPPY!
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It looks like a wonderful store! I would love to visit their tasting bar. In Portland, Maine (right on the waterfront) is a store where you can taste many different olive oils. It was amazing to compare the different flavors. Now – where is there a chocolate store with a tasting bar!
Porch Days´s last blog ..PK’s Jewelry Giveaway
Yum! I love Savannah Bee honey. Did you try the honeycomb? Delicious! Loved your post!
xoxo,
allegra
This is a wonderful, informational about the wonderful interactive and educational store. The guys did a wonderful job with the interior building and design. The designers of the doors are my friends over at Structured Green (http://www.structuredgreen.com/). I’m thrilled to hear the reviews about the product. I was the designer of the Savannah Bee brand – and it expels the energy, creativity and passion for the honeybee from the company’s owner. We worked years (8 to be exact!) on building this image. I’m proud to see the labels and packaging in the storefront window (and above) acting as the marque for the excitement inside.
Bee-autiful post, Diana!
- Cari
Hey Cari,
Thanks for your comments about my Savannah Bee post. As a designer, it thrills me to see this kind of attention to detail from start to stop. You did a FABULOUS job creating the pieces and parts to build the brand.
I can totally see the owner’s passion for his company!