Austin Hogue and his family have a corner on the market when it comes to York’s family-owned-and-operated businesses. In fact, they really do own a corner market, and now, the latest buzz—The Hive Coffee House & Café.
The family’s entrepreneurial roots go back to Hogue’s grandfather, who founded R.F. Berkheimer & Sons in 1961. The painting contractor business morphed into BAPS, an automotive paint and supplies distributor. While BAPS is still based in York, it’s grown to nine locations from Massachusetts to Virginia.
But it was during their daily York County commutes that the family hatched a new business plan.
“We fell in love with this little corner as we were traveling to our corporate office,” explains Hogue, “and we often wondered if they’d sell.”
At the time, the busy intersection at Canal and Bull roads was home to Hake’s Grocery, a mainstay of the Dover area for more than 50 years.
When the Hogue/Berkheimer family learned it was for sale, they jumped at the chance to spread their entrepreneurial wings. First, they reimagined and transformed Hake’s into Dottie’s Market, renamed to honor Hogue’s grandmother. It’s a small community grocery store that includes an adjacent greenhouse and gas station—all of which the family overhauled from the previous ownership.
“It’s named for my grandmother, Dottie Berkheimer. At first, she wasn’t sure she wanted her name associated with the corner,” says Hogue with a laugh, ”But now she’s a proud grandma.”
The family’s vision for the expansive corner property also included a completely new business, something the Dover area never had—a coffeehouse.
“It was the brainchild of my wife, Jacquelyn,” Hogue says. “We came up with the name ‘The Hive’ because we wanted this to be the hub of the community.”
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For inspiration, the couple hit the road and visited Nashville and Charlotte’s hip coffee scenes.
But it’s York County and Susquehanna Valley community vibes that buzz through the coffeehouse and café’s menu, décor, friendly staff and customers alike. Lancaster’s Square One Coffee, Beck’s Ice Cream of York, Camp Hill’s Pennsylvania Bakery treats, and York’s Lilybird & Company teas grace the menu.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the options include not one but four unique flavors of avocado toast, smoothies, soups and salads. Sandwiches, however, are really the bee’s knees. No, really—Bee’s Knees is The Hive’s chicken salad sandwich featuring romaine and tomato on rye.
One of the sweetest things about The Hive? beautiful locally grown flower bouquets for sale on each table—accented by bees and honeycombs in the shop’s décor.
Seasonal coffee concoctions include a “drink of the month” with partial proceeds benefiting a different local charity every month. Recipients have included the York County Food Bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters of York & Adams Counties, York cat rescue Feline Solutions, and New Freedom’s Animal Rescue, Inc.
The Hive’s manager, Tabby McCabe, enjoys creating seasonal drinks—she calls them “a hug in a mug.” And those warm seasonal cups of cheer aren’t limited to coffee. There’s also Spiced Cider, Turtle Hot Chocolate and lots of tea-licious options.
After working at Dottie’s Market for several years, McCabe slid right into The Hive’s manager position.
“I grew up here in Dover, less than 10 minutes from the store,” she says. “It’s part of my history, and now I want to make history with them [the Hogue/Berkheimer family].”
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Like bees attracted to sweet nectar, customers pick up on the community and family vibes.
“People love the warm, inviting environment here. They’re always saying it’s the cutest little coffee shop,” McCabe says.
Six family members share ownership of The Hive: Hogue and his brother along with two cousins—“us four guys,” he says—and his mother and uncle.
“It’s fun,” Hogue says. “We’re business-minded people, and we enjoy the challenges. We can’t sit still.”
Speaking of challenges, The Hive opened in the summer of 2019, and the family had to figure out how to weather the pandemic storm as a brand-new business.
“It’s been a learning process,” Hogue explains. “We didn’t have a background in the grocery or coffeehouse businesses, but we figured business is business, and as long as you treat your customers well, we can figure it out.”
Future plans include an upgraded greenhouse for area plant lovers. During spring and summer, Hogue says The Hive will continue building its live music lineup for the outdoor patio, as well as its makers market—known as Handmade at The Hive—held in an adjacent field.
“From the beginning,” Hogue says, “our vision for this complex was to give the community a place they could be proud to have in their backyard.”
The Hive Coffee House & Café
3665 Bull Rd, York, PA | hivecoffeehouseandcafe.com | thehivecoffeehouseandcafe
