Sunday, Nov. 20, will be the last day downtown eatery The Bee’s Knees opens its doors, according to a recent social media post.
Owner Eric Kinlaw announced Thursday on Facebook that the restaurant will be closing after 20 years in business.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has walked through The Bee’s Knees doors,” said the post. “All the patrons, employees, friends, and family who have supported these past 20 years has been surprising, uplifting, and most importantly self-actualizing.”
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The closing has come after some rough patches for the café during the COVID years. It first launched as a brunch and tapas spot in the summer of 2002 and became a fixture of downtown. Kinlaw launched its sister business, grocery store the Hive Bodega, located next door to its location at the corner of 10th and Ellis Streets.
Both businesses had to shut down temporarily in 2020 amid the pandemic, and didn’t open again until August the following year. Gaining back pre-COVID momentum proved difficult, as The Hive shut down again in February and didn’t open back up. Kinlaw sold off the store’s furnishings and equipment and leased the space. Since August it has been the site of Manny’s Sports Off Broad.
Kinlaw and staff renovated The Bee’s Knees, the menu became mostly vegan and the bistro rebranded as a coffee shop and event space.
“Please continue to fully support all local things you love,” Kinlaw said in the announcement. “It’s the soul of any community and needs to be nurtured as much as possible. Love all, bee kind.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
