Maven Theory co-owners Bethany Frazier, left, and Meg Althoff are preparing to open a new retail store to sell candles and perfumes in Bellevue. (Photos courtesy Maven Theory)
A pair of local entrepreneurs are moving their business ventures into a 1930s-era theater in the midst of a redevelopment.
Meg Althoff and Bethany Frazier have secured a 1,000-square-foot space in the former Samis Grotto Temple building at 4028 MacArthur Ave.
There, the duo plan to operate three businesses under one roof – Maven Theory, a candle and fragrances company co-owned by Althoff and Frazier, as well as candle brand Sun Theory (owned by Althoff) and skin care company Maven Made (owned by Frazier).
The space, expected to open this fall, will feature a retail storefront as well as production operations for the three brands. The storefront also will have a patio for community events, workshops and popups.
A Maven Theory candle.
The store is expected to have a décor inspired by the duo’s favorite travel spot, Joshua Tree National Park in California. That and other travel destinations such as Palm Springs, California, and the Mexican Yucatan serve as inspirations for Maven Theory products.
Frazier said the move into the new retail space allows the brands to continue to grow and builds on years of experience running the businesses, which have been home-based after exiting a shared downtown studio space in February.
“It felt like the most natural progression and also it feels like a safe move. We have the customers and the experience,” Frazier said.
The creation of Maven Theory last year came several years after Frazier and Althoff met at a local event in 2019, where they were both vendors. Maven Made was founded in 2014, and Sun Theory started in 2018.
Maven Theory was founded in July 2023. Frazier’s Maven Made had started to offer perfumes in 2021, shortly before Althoff’s Sun Theory moved into a downtown studio at East Main and 14th streets. Drawing on Althoff’s experience making candles with Sun Theory, the idea was hatched to use the Maven Made scents in candles, and a new business venture was born.
The Maven Theory candles are intended to be a higher-end product than Sun Theory’s candles. A 10-ounce Maven Theory candle costs $50 on the company’s online store.
In addition to carrying in-house candles and perfumes, the shop also will sell products from other independent businesses based throughout the country.
The Samis Grotto Temple is flanked by Dot’s Back Inn and Zorba’s Pizza Express in Bellevue. (BizSense file)
Althoff said they were attracted to the Bellevue space because they liked the neighborhood, which they felt had a stronger sense of community than the downtown area they previously operated in.
“It’s a great community and it would be so cool to have a part of it. That was something we thought was hard downtown,” she said. “We were looking for a neighborhood feeling.”
They’ll join a Northside commercial corridor that’s also home to the likes of juice bar You Matter and music store One Three Guitar, among others. Frazier said they’re filling a gap in the area with their concept.
“It’s going to be a gift shop. There’s nothing like it in Bellevue,” Frazier said.
Althoff and Frazier will operate out of one of three retail spaces planned at the Samis Grotto building, where work was underway this week to redevelop the building into a mixed-use property with apartments above the ground-level commercial areas.
The Art Deco building near the MacArthur and Bellevue avenues intersection was built as the Bellevue Theater in 1937. The building most recently has been a Masonic lodge for the local Grottoes International chapter.
Maven Theory co-owners Bethany Frazier, left, and Meg Althoff are preparing to open a new retail store to sell candles and perfumes in Bellevue. (Photos courtesy Maven Theory)
A pair of local entrepreneurs are moving their business ventures into a 1930s-era theater in the midst of a redevelopment.
Meg Althoff and Bethany Frazier have secured a 1,000-square-foot space in the former Samis Grotto Temple building at 4028 MacArthur Ave.
There, the duo plan to operate three businesses under one roof – Maven Theory, a candle and fragrances company co-owned by Althoff and Frazier, as well as candle brand Sun Theory (owned by Althoff) and skin care company Maven Made (owned by Frazier).
The space, expected to open this fall, will feature a retail storefront as well as production operations for the three brands. The storefront also will have a patio for community events, workshops and popups.
A Maven Theory candle.
The store is expected to have a décor inspired by the duo’s favorite travel spot, Joshua Tree National Park in California. That and other travel destinations such as Palm Springs, California, and the Mexican Yucatan serve as inspirations for Maven Theory products.
Frazier said the move into the new retail space allows the brands to continue to grow and builds on years of experience running the businesses, which have been home-based after exiting a shared downtown studio space in February.
“It felt like the most natural progression and also it feels like a safe move. We have the customers and the experience,” Frazier said.
The creation of Maven Theory last year came several years after Frazier and Althoff met at a local event in 2019, where they were both vendors. Maven Made was founded in 2014, and Sun Theory started in 2018.
Maven Theory was founded in July 2023. Frazier’s Maven Made had started to offer perfumes in 2021, shortly before Althoff’s Sun Theory moved into a downtown studio at East Main and 14th streets. Drawing on Althoff’s experience making candles with Sun Theory, the idea was hatched to use the Maven Made scents in candles, and a new business venture was born.
The Maven Theory candles are intended to be a higher-end product than Sun Theory’s candles. A 10-ounce Maven Theory candle costs $50 on the company’s online store.
In addition to carrying in-house candles and perfumes, the shop also will sell products from other independent businesses based throughout the country.
The Samis Grotto Temple is flanked by Dot’s Back Inn and Zorba’s Pizza Express in Bellevue. (BizSense file)
Althoff said they were attracted to the Bellevue space because they liked the neighborhood, which they felt had a stronger sense of community than the downtown area they previously operated in.
“It’s a great community and it would be so cool to have a part of it. That was something we thought was hard downtown,” she said. “We were looking for a neighborhood feeling.”
They’ll join a Northside commercial corridor that’s also home to the likes of juice bar You Matter and music store One Three Guitar, among others. Frazier said they’re filling a gap in the area with their concept.
“It’s going to be a gift shop. There’s nothing like it in Bellevue,” Frazier said.
Althoff and Frazier will operate out of one of three retail spaces planned at the Samis Grotto building, where work was underway this week to redevelop the building into a mixed-use property with apartments above the ground-level commercial areas.
The Art Deco building near the MacArthur and Bellevue avenues intersection was built as the Bellevue Theater in 1937. The building most recently has been a Masonic lodge for the local Grottoes International chapter.
Congratulations Bethany and Meg! I can’t wait to see your beautiful new space!
Wishing Bethany and Meg all the best for tremendous success! So glad to see young entrepreneurs making a difference and investing in the revitalization of this wonderful old neighborhood.
Go get ’em, ladies!
$50 candles?
I wish the best of luck to anyone separating fools from their $
Congrats! This will be a beautiful space. Can’t wait to come in and browse and buy.