A popular multi-vendor marketplace in Nazareth and Upper Saucon Township closed Monday amid $7,500 in pending civil claims and delayed vendor payments.
The Hive Local Marketplace, 27 E. Belvidere St. in Nazareth, and near Ruby Tuesday and AMC Theatres at Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township, shuttered permanently Monday evening.
Owner Makayla Adams, a Bangor native, cited a “serious financial hardship” and admitted unpaid vendor balances as reasons in a Facebook post.
“After careful consideration, we have made the very difficult decision to close our retail operations, effective immediately,” the post says. “This is a strictly cash flow crisis within our business, not a criminal act and is not our intention to avoid our financial responsibilities.”
At least two vendors told lehighvalleylive.com in recent weeks they were waiting to be paid by Adams. Three civil claims for a combined $7,500 are pending against Adams before District Judge Daniel Trexler in Lehigh County.
The plaintiffs are from Allentown, Macungie and Doylestown, Bucks County. Two claims name Adams and the Hive as defendants. The third, for $1,500, names only Adams as a defendant.
Adams couldn’t immediately be reached for more information Tuesday morning. It’s unclear if she has an attorney representing her in the cases.
The Hive was known offering the wares of hundreds of craft vendors in a single location. Vendors were typically assigned a certain amount of space within a designated section and they decided how to set up their goods. There were separate sections for such things as pet supplies; home decor; jewelry; and artwork, as well as gifts and seasonal goods.
In her post, Adams she understands the “frustration, fear and anger” her vendors are feeling. She is working with financial and legal advisors on the next steps to address outstanding balances, she said.
“They deserve clarity and a path forward,” Adams said of the vendors. “… We will be communicating directly with affected vendors with information regarding inventory pickup and next steps.”
Adams called the closures “heartbreaking” but said she is committed to handling the transition with “as much transparency and respect as possible.”
The closure of the two Hive Local spaces comes after a third closure in March 2025. Adams then shuttered a store at the Allentown’s ArtsWalk, across from the Downtown Allentown Market. She opened at the Promenade about a month later.
Adams launched the business’ initial flagship location in July 2023 in Nazareth. That site previously occupied Abode Home Decor, which closed in June 2023 after opening another site in downtown Easton.
Prior, Adams ran a similar yet smaller concept called “Good To All” for about five months near the Delaware Water Gap in Monroe County.
It’s unclear if there are any pending tenants lined up to take over the Nazareth and Promenade spaces. Madeleine Convery, marketing manager for Promenade Saucon Valley, declined comment, stating the shopping center doesn’t comment on individual tenants, tenant leases, or tenant-related matters.
“Any inquiries regarding The Hive should be directed to The Hive directly,” Convery told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday.
Three new tenants, however, are set to fill empty storefronts at Promenade Saucon Valley this spring.
These include Norman’s Hallmark, next to Bath & Body Works; Wonder, a dining establishment featuring multiple brands next to Elite Salons & Suites; and Sephora in the space that formerly occupied Go! Calendars, Toys & Games.
Additionally, Mental Strength Ritual is on tap to soon open in the space that formerly occupied Evolve Salon and Spa, next to Altar’d State.
Other tenants recently opened. These include Dolly’s Dressing Room, which recently opened in the space that formerly occupied Handmade Mystic, The Kawaii Shop, which opened in December next to Carter’s; Barley Creek Taproom, which opened in November in the former Cosi space; and Sunglass Hut, which opened in October next to Bath & Body Works.