HAMPTON, Va. — Amy Smith is all about Phoebus. Born and raised in the historic Hampton neighborhood, Smith saw an opportunity to bring her vision to life and took it.
She opened Honey House Boutique in 2019.
“I saw businesses popping up. We didn’t have a new store. It was all consignment or antique, so I saw the void and I wanted to fill it. I’m the type of person if I wanna do something, I’m doing it,” said Smith.
The business is located on E. Mellen Street near S. Mallory Street.
“Second I step foot in here, it’s like an extension of our home.”
Honey House is the perfect place to find something for your sweetie, or yourself.
A light blue handbag that holds an entire box of wine with a disguised opening for the spout is one of the unique items that match the easy-going and colorful style of the shop.
Smith says she’s been adjusting her recipe for success— selling comfy casual clothes to keep quarantine chic, but still keeping true to her focus of selling locally-made items. “I have everything from gifts to clothes to shoes to houseware, and it’s constantly changing. I’m constantly getting new products in,” she said.
The hometown girl has her hometown store, but what she needs now is some hometown support.
“These have been the worst months, these first few in this year," Smith said. "It’s just been really slow.”
In a Facebook post published on Sunday, Smith wrote, “The boutique is only sustaining by the Grace of God right now. Grace of God is our personal account.”
“One of my kids had an exposure [to COVID-19] so I had to close for two weeks because of that, so it’s kinda just been like a recipe for disaster,” she said. “I just keep thinking it’s going to get better, like it has to."
She’s optimistic that with the support of the community, it will.
