Athentic Brewing Company, located in the middle of Normaltown, hosted a miniature market on Thursday, Feb. 20 that included Diamond Hill Farm, Normaltown Bread Company and Katie Bee Honey Company. The three businesses each sold their unique products to customers as part of an effort from the brewery to support local businesses and promote community engagement.
Owner of Athentic, Paul Skinner, allows these businesses to set up their stands before the brewery opens every Thursday free of charge in an indoor patio space. This allows the businesses to display and sell their product as customers arrive at the brewery, while also being protected from the cold.
“We’re community-focused, so we’re really trying to just give a lot of folks that opportunity to come in,” said Jeff Levene, event coordinator of Athentic. “It’s a nice exchange, just because it gets a lot of people coming to the brewery.”
Diamond Hill Farm
Diamond Hill Farm, a family-run business with over a dozen employees, was the first of the three vendors to establish a consistent presence at the brewery. The farm participates in the Community Supported Agriculture program and uses the brewery as one of its two winter pickup locations.
Diamond Hill Farm parks a van carrying their produce for Community Supported Agriculture at Athentic Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photograph/Ethan Wilcox, ecw22673@uga.edu)
Regular customer Beverly Buthman, left, interacts with Diamond Hill Farm employee Averi Childress, right, at Athentic Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photograph/Ethan Wilcox, ecw22673@uga.edu)
Over a dozen CSA members arrived at the event to pick up their purchased shares of produce that come directly from the farm. Diamond Hill Farm employee Averi Childress says it’s fun to watch CSA members take the time to check out the other stands after picking up their produce.
Members of Community Supported Agriculture pick up their shares of produce at the Diamond Hill Farm stand at Athentic Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photograph/Ethan Wilcox, ecw22673@uga.edu)
Normaltown Bread Company
Martin Kohnen, owner of Normaltown Bread, began his business as a hobby and often spends time at the brewery with friends. Kohnen asked Skinner for permission to use the brewery as both a pick up location for customers who purchase his sourdough bread online and a selling location for in-person customers.
“Beer and bread kind of go hand in hand, they’re very similar,” Kohnen said. “And [Skinner] gave me an opportunity to, you know, kind of launch this little endeavor that I’ve been working on.”
Martin Kohnen offers samples of Normaltown Bread Company’s sourdough bread at Athentic Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photograph/Ethan Wilcox, ecw22673@uga.edu)
Kohnen had only five loaves leftover when he closed his stand. By setting up next to Diamond Hill Farm, he is able to sell up to 50 loaves a week.
“The type of people who participate in the CSA, are the same kind of people who appreciate these kinds of breads,” Kohnen said.
Katie Bee Honey Company
Katie Bee Honey Company, owned by Chad Mote and his daughter Katie, sells raw, unpasteurized honey from hives located in Georgia. Their apiary is one of only two certified naturally grown in the state.
Chad Mote is a former teacher who now dedicates his time to beekeeping, having joined Diamond Hill Farm and Normaltown Bread to sell their product at Athentic.
Katie Bee Honey Company displays bottles of honey that are ready to be sold at Athentic Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photograph/Ethan Wilcox, ecw22673@uga.edu)
More from Athentic
As temperatures rise in March, Athentic plans to expand its lineup of vendors.
In addition to the stands, Athentic hosts a large variety of events including dance parties, cornhole tournaments, nonprofit fundraisers and improv, sometimes having up to eight events in a day.
“We have this space, so why not use it for the community?” Levene said.