Conversations with Rich Bennett From Cocoa Bombs To The Hive: Brittany Russin Smith’s Journey
Owner/operator Brittany Russin Smith shares how she turned a love of baking and community into The Hive at Rumsey—Harford County’s collaborative commissary kitchen—and The Honey Loft upstairs venue. She walks through vendor partnerships, micro-weddings, BYO alcohol logistics, and what it takes to run a flexible event space on the water in Joppatowne. If you care about local entrepreneurship, food businesses, and community-powered growth, this one’s packed with practical insights.
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Guest Bio:
Brittany Russin Smith is the founder of The Hive at Rumsey (a licensed commissary kitchen and event space) and co-owner of The Honey Loft, an upstairs waterfront venue in Joppatowne, MD. A former government contractor and Maryland State Police employee, she pivoted during 2020 from hot cocoa bombs and cottage-food baking into running a multi-vendor kitchen that supports caterers, food trucks, and pop-up events—all with a mission to help small businesses thrive.
Main Topics:
· What a commissary kitchen is and why Harford County needed one
· Brittany’s path: government contracting → state police → entrepreneurship
· 2020 cottage-food beginnings (hot cocoa bombs) and spark to build The Hive
· Launching The Honey Loft: micro-wedding giveaway → full venue
· Capacity & layout: indoor/outdoor options, lawn by the water, roundtables
· Vendor ecosystem & collaboration (caterers, food trucks, charcuterie, desserts)
· BYO alcohol rules at private events; staffing bartenders vs. liquor license
· Social media hurdles for local businesses and group-posting limits
· Future vision: expand kitchen/prep and storage downstairs; events upstairs
· Community mentors, family support (shoutout to “Queen Bee” mom) and tattoos that tell the story
Resources mentioned:
· The Hive At Rumsey Creative Kitchen
https://harfordcountyhealth.com
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