Flagstaff Featured Business: The Hive
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press.
The Hive
4907 48th Avenue; Sedgewick
Ph: 780-384-2778 or 780-888-5204
bpl@eastlink.ca
That’s when Jan and Dennis Bergseth decided to transform the easternmost bay of the building they own just off 50th Street.
“Dennis basically gutted the building, tore through walls, tore out flooring, put new walls up, moved bathrooms, moved plumbing; he did all the work himself,” Jan recalls.
The Hive, as it would be named, was soon ready to open – when COVID-19 struck.
“So we’ve had ups and downs through COVID, as every business has, and opened and closed, and opened for various events when the COVID window allowed,” Jan explains. “And now, fingers crossed, we’re past all that. So we’re going forward.”
In setting up their vision for a small-event venue, the Bergseths strived to include everything that any potential renters would possibly need.
“The kitchen area isn’t huge, but I think we cover most of the things that you would need in a kitchen,” Jan says.
“We have a full-size fridge and a stove. We have a cooler in the furnace room you can use if you need. There are lots of appliances, utensils, dishes, pots and pans, anything you might need to bake, things like that. We have tables and chairs available for you to set up.”
They also have Alexa, Amazon’s voice-controlled virtual assistant.
“Alexa runs a lot of the lights and the features in the building,” Jan explains.
“We have strip lighting around the roof that will allow you to coordinate colours for your function and that can be coordinated to go in time with the music that’s playing on Alexa.
“It can be a steady-on light, it can be flashing, it can be whatever colour scheme you want.”
What if you’re not quite tech-savvy enough to figure out how to get the most out of Alexa? “We have an instruction sheet that lays it out pretty straightforward,” Jan adds.
“Most times when people ask us questions, we say, ‘If you have a grandchild or a teenager with you, they’ll be able to figure it out.’ So I think we’ve got it pretty bulletproof now as far as how to use Alexa and everything in here.”
The Hive’s maximum capacity is 45 people, so it’s an ideal rental space for parties, showers, family reunions, meetings, and other similarly sized get-togethers.
The space is purposely kept bare to make decorating for events as simple as possible.
“I think every town has their own hall, but halls are quite big and often they can be very cold and informal,” Jan says.
“If you’re wanting a space that gives you a more intimate feeling and a more cozy feeling, that’s what we offer.”
The building, which also houses tenant Railside Spirits in the centre bay, has been owned by the Bergseths since 1998.
“It’s three bays and the building has evolved over the years,” Jan explains.
“Many businesses have been located in this building, and in particular, in this spot. Some were us and some are other people.
“When we first got the building, we started off with a sign shop in here. Then we had a gym in the front area and Dennis with silkscreen in the back. We were then approached by the Good As New (thrift store).
“They were looking for a new rental space. So the Good As New was in here for five or six years. It’s just nice to have something that supports the community and offers a service to the community. That’s kind of the direction we wanted to go with it.”
Meanwhile, the decision to operate their business in the Flagstaff Region was a “no-brainer,” says Jan.
“My husband has lived here all his life in Flagstaff. He was born and raised north of Lougheed and lived there for many years.
“We moved south of Sedgewick in 2001, shortly after we bought this building, and just kind of evolved from there.”
The Hive has been busy, but not too busy. Jan says she has rarely had to turn down bookings.
“Most times we are able to take bookings,” she notes. “We have two local clubs, the Battle River Art Club and the Royal Canadian Legion number 55, who rent this space monthly for their functions.
“And interspersed amongst that is all of the other functions that go on.”
That includes several gun courses for Flagstaff Rural Crime Watch, fitness classes, birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers, and more.
“We’ve even had one family that had their gender reveal here, and they then went on and had their first birthday party here as well. So that was kind of neat,” Jan says.
“We also had one bride who rented the space and used it as her place for her and her bridesmaids to get ready on their wedding date.
“We’ve seen lots of photos of events, past events that people have shared with us, and it always amazes me how much people put into the decorating that they do. And that’s why we like to have, like I said, a blank slate for everyone to work with.”
Book your event today at the Hive!
Check out the feature in print in the March 8 edition of The Community Press – available for digital purchase anytime.
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The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press.
