It’s simple. We make
(So dope you’ll forget it’s vegan, actually.)
Back in the day, I was drumming in a band called Born Empty (yep, where BE came from). What began as vegan potlucks for friends after gigs back at our house dubbed—The BE Hive—turned into a movement, built on good food, good people, and a no-BS approach to eating better. Now, we’re serving up plant-based eats that hit hard, proving dope food speaks louder than labels.
The Story Behind the Hive
What started as community potlucks is now a stereotype-smashing movement.
The OG Vegan Underground
Before veganism was hip and Nashville had, like, half a vegan restaurant, we turned our house, The BE Hive, into the spot. Our band, Born Empty, threw massive vegan potlucks (sometimes 80 deep) with everyone bringing homemade dishes. It was wild, it was communal, and somewhere in the chaos, we even recorded a Christmas caroling album–because why not?
Buffet Hustle Begins
Since our favorite eatery, The Wild Cow, was closed on Tuesdays, we did what any logical group of vegan foodies would do –started a weekly $10 plant-based buffet. A chunk of the cash went to a local nonprofit, some to The Wild Cow, and the rest fueled our dream. It was here that we realized people loved seitan. Like, "take my money" loved it. So The BE Hive LLC was born.
The Pivot
After 18 months of weekly buffets and a handshake deal for a kitchen that fell through, the partners went their separate ways, but Ben wasn’t about to call it quits. Fueled by determination (and a whole bunch of seitan), he doubled down on creating a killer line of plant-based proteins, one wheat-packed bite at a time.
The Grind
Ben went full hustle mode. He started in a friend’s kitchen before leveling up to a rental space, refining the lineup along the way. It began with chorizo, filets, and bulk blocks. And then a real game-changer happened. Baja Burrito. Ben walked in, pitched the owner, and sold 60 lbs on the spot. Just like that, The BE Hive had its first big customer. And it’s never been that easy since.
The First HQ
Tired of bouncing between kitchens, we finally locked down our own space in East Nashville. No more borrowing, renting, or sharing. This was ours. Even better? It was connected to The East Room, a DIY venue that gave us the perfect spot to start throwing events again. With a kitchen to call home and a built-in creative hub next door, things were about to get real.
From DIY to Deli Domination
With a permanent spot, we cranked out events and expanded the lineup. Hello, pepperoni, bacon, roast beef, and sausages (RIP). The events transitioned into a Saturday deli pop-up that quickly turned into Saturdays and Sundays. Until…
COVID, a tornado, and a whole lotta Seitan
We’d just signed the lease for a 7,500 sq. ft. space in Donelson when COVID hit. Panic? Maybe. But we flipped the deli into a to-go window and BOOM…lines out the door. Started with weekends, then Fridays, then five days, then seven by the end of the year. When life hands you lemons a pandemic, you turn it into a plant-based empire, right?
Big Leagues
We thought 7,500 sq. ft. would last us a while. Turns out, not so much. Within six months, we were drowning in pallets and 53-ft trucks, completely outgrowing our space. So, in December 2021, just 18 months after moving in, we leveled up again. We bought the building, built a dock, installed an elevator, expanded our freezer space to 2,000 sq. ft., and took over the entire basement. Now? We’re rolling with 15,000 sq. ft. and zero plans of slowing down.
The Takeover
Now? We’re out here slinging Dope Plant Food, infiltrating restaurant menus nationwide, and smashing the “vegan food is boring” stereotype bite by bite. And trust us, we’re just getting started… so stay hungry.
The BE Hive creates more than kickass food that just happens to be vegan—we create community fueled by good vibes and a mission to create something better for you and the planet.
Our Superpowers
Simple Ingredients
Seitan has been a staple in the Eastern world for centuries, and for good reason. It’s simple and not full of junk.
Easy to Use, Hard to F*ck Up
Stack it, sauté it, eat it right out of the bag. Our ethos is vegan food shouldn’t be hard to make taste good.
Better for You & The Planet
Packed with protein, low in fat, and a friend to your cholesterol, our food fuels your body without weighing it down.
Is it really that damn good?
“I got played. I thought I was getting real meat...but instead this stuff ended up being all vegetarian. It should be much more clear online about what kind of food that you’re getting. Lame.”
-Jake M.
Well you can’t please every jake-off.
