Since Day One, I’ve always believed completely in the intention behind Bee Hive. I have felt, and still feel, that building community and connection and getting books in the hands of kids of all ages, transcends any modern-day challenges that face independent book stores. I have remained steadfast in that belief. That vision. That mission.

But, man, when I reached the fifth year of being open and business started dropping at a consistent rate (Year 5 is supposed to be the year that cinches your security in the Small Business world. You make it to that point – you are established), the doubt, not just my own, but all the collected doubt of everyone and everything that has made a business like mine pretty challenging, seeps in. And its like your climbing uphill. Every. Single. Day.

For two years, business has continued to decline. Bee Hive will hit 7 years in November and I often find myself wondering if the glory years – of the first five – are behind me.

I recently had the opportunity to meet my town’s Mayor. And, I really didn’t hold back. I told him that my business was the only one of its kind in the state. And I was struggling. And did he really want a store like mine to go away? Something needs to be done. And quick. I suggested a Block Party for our neighborhood. Maybe we could bring people back by drumming up some energy. He was into it, but asked me to get in touch with my neighbors to gauge interest. And so, with the help of Laura, an awesome Bee Hive sales-associate, we collected contact information for the neighborhood. And I sent word out about a Block Party.

What came back were stories just like my own. Struggle. Business downturn. What happened to the neighborhood? Where is everyone? Business owners of twenty years testifying they have never seen things this dire. This quiet. This…dead.

“How long can a town go with a lifeless Main Street? Isn’t a town only as vibrant as the area that represents it?”

Here’s the thing. Bee Hive’s neighborhood is Main Street, Santa Fe. It historically has been where locals have gone to shop, hang out, eat, go to the Farmer’s Market, go to the movies. But somehow with the emptying out of the anchor shopping area in order to turn it into a school, parking becoming less and more expensive, and the area being in a state of transition for longer than its been able to sustain – Main Street, Santa Fe has had the life sucked out of it. At 11:00 on a Tuesday or 4:00 on a Thursday – it is a ghost town. Saturdays – which used to be bustling at Bee Hive – are dead. Here’s the other thing – how long can a town go with a lifeless Main Street? Isn’t a town only as vibrant as the area that represents it?

Once I discovered that it wasn’t just me – my business – I contacted the Mayor and told him the extent of the situation. Forget the Block Party! This is in need of way more attention. I then met with some city representatives and NO ONE knew! And my poor neighbors! Everyone thought it was just them. Their struggle. Their businesses. Everyone has slowly been drowning. Quietly. On their own.

Business owners, city officials, landlords, etc. will be meeting with the Mayor soon to discuss how to address the issues the Guadalupe neighborhood has been facing. Hopefully we can start to be seen again. Heard. Thrown some life rafts.

In the mean time, neighbors have been dropping by the store on a regular basis – sharing their stories, their ideas for action, and just…talking. Grateful to not be the only ones anymore.

And, honestly, I feel like new life has been breathed into the Bee Hive. For the first time in such a long time I feel like, maybe, my days aren’t numbered. Maybe, with an army of help, people will come back. Maybe the so-called reasons for the doubts that have been creeping into my intentions, my mission, my vision – are bull shit.

But mostly – I’m just so grateful for my neighborhood.

And to not be alone anymore.