Bee-Commerce — Newtown, CT equipment

Category: Equipment Also called: Bee-Commerce (Newtown, Connecticut); Hopewell Harmony, LLC; bee-commerce.com

What it is

Bee-Commerce is a beekeeping supply shop for hobbyist and backyard beekeepers in Newtown, Connecticut. Its About page says beekeepers Ed Weiss and Howland Blackiston launched it in 1998 as one of the first e-commerce beekeeping supply stores; ownership passed to Leslie Huston in 2009, and the business moved from Weston to 160A Sugar Street, Newtown, CT in 2016. The first-party store on bee-commerce.com (operated by Hopewell Harmony, LLC) sells startup kits, hive kits and woodenware, apparel, honey-harvest gear, bee-health products, tools and books with posted prices and a cart. Each spring it also brings in 3 lb package bees for local pickup only at the Newtown shop. This listing is for the supply shop with an official cart and on-page prices, not a club or a course.

Official URL

Official shop: https://www.bee-commerce.com/

Startup Kits: https://www.bee-commerce.com/startup-kits/

Hive Kits: https://www.bee-commerce.com/categories/Hives-Woodenware/Hive-Kits/

Cart: https://www.bee-commerce.com/cart.php

Example product (Best-Quality Startup Kit): https://www.bee-commerce.com/products/BestQuality-Startup-Kit.html

Local Offerings (package bees, queens, field visits): https://www.bee-commerce.com/local-offerings/

2026 Package Bee Reservation Information: https://www.bee-commerce.com/package-bee-reservation-information/

About Bee-Commerce: https://www.bee-commerce.com/about-bee-commerce/

Our Guarantee: https://www.bee-commerce.com/pages/guarantee.html

Last checked

2026-10-30. All URLs above returned HTTP 200 with a desktop Chrome user agent and browser Accept headers on that date.

FAQ

Q: Where is Bee-Commerce and when is the shop open?
A: The Contact Us page gives the mailing address as Bee-Commerce, Hopewell Harmony, LLC, 160A Sugar Street, Newtown, CT 06470, and phone 203-222-2268 (the guarantee page also lists toll-free 1-800-784-1911). Shop hours listed 2026-10-30: Tuesday 2–6 pm, Thursday 2–6 pm and Saturday 10 am–2 pm; closed Sunday and Monday.

Q: Does it have an online store and cart?
A: Yes. bee-commerce.com runs a BigCommerce store with category pages, product pages and a cart at /cart.php (HTTP 200 when checked; the cart showed “Your cart is empty”).

Q: What do things cost?
A: As listed 2026-10-30: Beekeepers Basic Toolkit $95.00; Best-Quality Startup Kit $270.00; Super Deluxe Startup Kit $410.00. On the Hive Kits page: Deluxe 5-Frame Cypress Nuc Kit $85.00; Single Chamber Deep Depth Hive Kit $170.00; Medium Depth Hive Kit $235.00; Deep Depth Hive Kit $250.00; 8-frame Medium and Deep Depth Hive Kits $198.00 and $200.00. The same page also lists nuc boxes from $20.00. Prices change; check the live page.

Q: What comes in the Best-Quality Startup Kit?
A: Per the product page: a clear pine deep hive body, entrance reducer, bottom board, inner cover, metal-clad outer cover, 10 wooden deep frames with pure beeswax foundation, metal frame rests, a 10” hive tool, a stainless steel smoker with guard, a veil, leather gloves and a choice of two beekeeping books. It is offered unassembled or assembled (allow 7–10 days for assembly). Bees are not included.

Q: Can I get bees there?
A: The 2026 Package Bee Reservation page lists 3 lb packages at $175 (early Italians, late March, “NOT for beginners”) and $185–$190 (Carniolan, Italian or Saskatraz queens, mid- to late April). It says “WE DO NOT SHIP PACKAGE BEES”: packages are local pickup only at the Newtown shop and must be picked up within three days of arrival. Payment is 100% refundable within 30 days of order and 50% refundable until three weeks before delivery. 2027 package information was not posted on the check date.

Q: What is the return policy?
A: The Our Guarantee page says that if you are not completely happy with products ordered, you may return them at any time for a 100% refund, “No questions asked.”

Q: Is this an official or affiliated listing?
A: Neither. Beekeeping Plaza is not affiliated with Bee-Commerce. No purchase, contact or form was made; the cart was only checked for an HTTP 200. This is the site’s first Connecticut Equipment listing (Connecticut already has a Local clubs entry).