A new restaurant and live entertainment venue from a familiar name is taking shape in South Boston.
On May 7, the Boston Licensing Board approved plans from Beehive owner Jack Bardy to transform three former industrial buildings at 202 West First Street into a sprawling new hospitality concept called King Bee.
According to Universal Hub, the project will bring a restaurant, cocktail bars, and live entertainment spaces to the former home of a handicap-ramp manufacturer, following approval from the Zoning Board of Appeal last year. The venue is envisioned as a lively neighborhood destination with “fun and inventive cooking and cocktails” alongside laid-back spaces designed for gathering, dining, and music.
While the concept is still evolving, King Bee is expected to channel the same spirit that turned The Beehive into a longtime South End staple—eclectic entertainment, creative cocktails, and New American cuisine—while catering to “a more mature audience” than many of the bars clustered around Broadway.
In addition to The Beehive, Bardy is behind South End spots Cósmica and Spy Bar through his hospitality group, Wildlife Hospitality. He confirmed the King Bee project with What Now Boston, noting that the team is still refining many aspects of the venue, including its design, layout, entertainment programming, and overall guest experience.
“The project is continuing to move forward well, and while a number of details are still evolving, the overall vision is a hospitality and entertainment destination that combines dining, cocktails, music, and social energy in a uniquely immersive way,” Bardy shared in an email. “We’re creating multiple experiences within the venue, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, live entertainment, and hospitality.”
During the licensing hearing, Beehive attorney Joe Hanley described the project as a much-needed addition for a fast-changing pocket of South Boston that is seeing an influx of new residential developments, hotel projects, and the planned redevelopment of the nearby Gillette campus.
