The Hive, a vibrant new destination offering gourmet food, beverages, and a rich hospitality experience, has officially opened in Bainbridge, Ohio. Owner Kimberly Gibson describes exploring the sprawling compound as a great way to get some steps in.

A Three-Year Transformation

The Hive represents a three-year journey to reshape the former Chagrin Cinemas property into a unique destination boasting a variety of hospitality-focused businesses. The project includes a gourmet market, a restaurant, a speakeasy, a cinema, and an event venue.

Honey Bee Market: A New Home

At the heart of The Hive is a 1,900-square-foot gourmet market, a new home for Honey Bee, Kimberly and Jimmy Gibson’s prepared foods market originally established in 2009. The original Honey Bee location is now closed, with all operations moved to this spacious new facility.

Gourmet Offerings

The market offers a wide selection of wine, beer, snacks, gourmet food products, fresh and frozen heat-and-eat meals, and more. Shelby Heppner, Director of Operations, explains, “This is our tried-and-true prepared foods store where local customers come in and load up for the week with our meals.”

Customers can find frozen appetizers, soups, family meals, desserts, fresh salads, and entrees like roast pork loin and pan-seared salmon.

Timberfire: A Revival

Timberfire is a revival of a beloved restaurant that previously existed in the area in the early 2000s. Kimberly Gibson emphasizes the importance of this part of the project, recalling her time as a salad girl at the original restaurant and receiving her college admission letter there.

Western-Inspired Tavern

The restaurant features a post-and-beam façade reminiscent of the original Timberfire, leading to a family-friendly tavern with a Western theme. It boasts the “largest bar in Geauga County,” accommodating 40 people at the bar and 70 on the attached patio, with a total seating capacity of 245.

Chef-Driven Menu

Chef Jimmy and his team will prepare popular dishes from the original menu alongside new, contemporary creations. The menu includes starters like fried provolone and braised beef nachos, salads, pizzas, burgers, and entrees such as herb-crusted walleye and grilled ribeye. Desserts include a chocolate campfire cake and Blossom Time sticky bun.

The Woodshed: A Speakeasy Experience

Hidden behind a broom closet lies The Woodshed, a posh speakeasy with its own bar, atmosphere, and spirits selection. The venue is decorated with psychedelic artwork from Jimmy’s private collection honoring the Grateful Dead and Dead & Co., and has a capacity of 300 people.

Screens Cinema & Concessions

Screens is the last remaining part of the original Chagrin Cinemas, maintaining the original screen and dimensions but featuring new, semi-private family-size nooks with soft seating. It will show second-run films, live sporting events, and host video game tournaments.

Gourmet Concessions

Concessions, a gourmet concession stand, connects all the venues, offering Italian sandwiches, focaccia pizza, salads, charcuterie boards, and donuts during the day. During events, it transforms into a bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails.

Honey Hill: Event Venue

Honey Hill is a 400-guest capacity event venue designed for weddings and large gatherings. It features stylish, separate bridal and grooms suites.

A State-of-the-Art Kitchen

The entire complex is powered by a state-of-the-art kitchen, serving as the nerve center for all food preparation. Kimberly Gibson highlights the importance of collaboration, stating, “With a project of this magnitude, you need the cross-pollination of people, product and procedures. That’s the key to our success.”