Walking into Bunny Hive, it’s not the toys, the climbing blocks or even the soft color palette that stands out. It’s the calm.
There’s no overly stimulating noise or neon chaos. Instead, there’s a scent of bamboo in the air, children laughing on a plush mat and parents actually relaxing. This is a place where toddlers tumble and babies shake tambourines – but it’s also a place where moms and dads exhale.
At the center of it all is Beth Forrester, owner of Bunny Hive Chattanooga and a mother of two who built the kind of space she once desperately needed herself.
“I had a newborn and a toddler, and I was asking myself, ‘How am I going to make friends?’” Forrester recalls. “It’s intimidating. You’re not going to walk into a coffee shop and strike up a conversation with a stranger. But at Bunny Hive, it happens naturally.”
From dream to reality
Forrester’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin with motherhood. It started in a ninth grade English class in Athens, Georgia, where she was asked to research a future career path. She landed on boutique owner.
“I’d always had a thing for clothes and how they make people feel,” she says. “And I liked the idea of being in the community, meeting people and working for myself.”
Forrester studied fashion merchandising at the University of Georgia, managed clothing boutiques and spent five years as an area manager for a luxury retail brand. She later pivoted into marketing and project management roles at agencies like Gravity Global and Chattanooga-based Human Powered.
On paper, her CV reads like a fast track to retail or branding leadership. But the birth of her first child changed everything.
The Bunny Hive effect
While living in Atlanta, a friend invited Forrester to attend a Bunny Hive class with their infant sons. The business had launched in 2019 as a “social club for little ones and their grownups,” blending early childhood enrichment with adult connection. Forrester was struck immediately – not just by the structure of the class but by the culture.
“It made a big impression on me,” she says. “I could see how it benefited my son developmentally, but also how it helped me meet people. I remember thinking, ‘I’d love to own something like this someday.’”
That day came sooner than expected. By the time her daughter was born and the family had relocated to Chattanooga, Forrester was deep in postpartum reflection and looking for a way to blend her skills, passions and needs. When she found out Bunny Hive was expanding to Nashville, a lightbulb turned on.
“If Nashville was getting one, I knew Chattanooga would be a perfect fit,” she says.
What exactly is Bunny Hive?
Bunny Hive isn’t day care – and it isn’t just a play group. It’s a membership-based studio that offers curriculum-driven classes for children ages 2 weeks to 5 years. Families can drop in for a single session or attend multiple times per week, with offerings that range from baby music and infant massage to toddler ballet and culinary exploration.
“We build everything around play-based learning and sensory exposure,” Forrester explains. “There’s a structure, but also a lot of fun and creativity. And we make sure the environment feels warm and appealing for the grownups, too.”
That intentional design is evident in every detail. The furniture is neutral-toned and low to the ground. The play mat in the center of the main area is soft, inviting and intentionally styled to look like a living room rug.
The toddler-height bar lets children safely engage in arts, crafts, or beginner cooking activities with child-safe utensils.
Each class follows a predictable rhythm – songs, movement, exploration – which builds comfort and anticipation in the children. The curriculum, written by Bunny Hive’s co-founder Katy Doar, changes weekly but maintains enough repetition to anchor children in routine.
“Our classes are 30 minutes, which is the sweet spot for little ones,” Forrester says. “Just long enough to stay engaged without getting overstimulated.”
It’s also a village
But what really sets Bunny Hive apart isn’t the curriculum – it’s the community it builds, Forrester says.
In the Hive – the shared open play area – families are encouraged to come early and stay after class. Between the tiny slide and soft play blocks, friendships take root and conversations come easily, Forrester says.
“I’ve already heard moms opening up about sleep regressions, feeding challenges, developmental milestones – real stuff. It’s incredible to see how quickly people feel comfortable enough to share.”
The community aspect is no accident. Forrester is as focused on building relationships as she is on running a successful studio.
“Honestly, I thought I’d own a boutique one day,” she says. “But this is more meaningful. We’re helping parents and caregivers build relationships.”
Why Chattanooga?
Beth says Chattanooga’s tight-knit feel is one of the biggest reasons she was confident the Bunny Hive would thrive here.
“This city has a strong sense of community already. You can feel that people want to connect more deeply,” she says. “And the small business community here is so supportive.”
North Shore, with its walkability and family density, felt like the right starting point. But Forrester is already thinking ahead to neighborhoods like East Brainerd and beyond.
“There are definitely places in town where this kind of space would be welcomed. We’d love to grow.”
Family ties
Forrester credits her ability to pull this off not just to professional experience but also to family influence. Her mother was a first grade teacher for over 30 years – and even taught her in first grade.
“She has such a nurturing, patient personality. I learned so much from her,” Forrester says. “I never planned to be a teacher, but I think I carry her style into how I parent and lead classes.”
Her father, an electrical engineer, brought the problem-solving and precision that came in handy during the studio’s buildout.
“I was really hands-on with the space. It was a full-circle moment. Everything I’ve done led me here.”
Beyond the classroom
Bunny Hive isn’t just about classes. The space is also available for private events – birthday parties, baby showers, holiday gatherings – and Forrester is open to hosting networking events and community workshops in the future.
“We’ve built this flexible, beautiful space. I want families to feel like it’s theirs.”
Event planning support is available through partnerships with local vendors – caterers, event stylists, bakers – many of whom Forrester has met since launching the business. It’s another example of what she calls “cross-pollination” among Chattanooga’s small businesses.
“There’s a love for collaboration in this town. It’s not competitive. Everyone wants to help each other.”
The bigger picture
Since its founding in 2019, Bunny Hive has grown to nearly 30 locations nationwide. But each studio reflects its owner and its city, and Forrester sees her version as deeply tied to Chattanooga’s character.
“It’s a place where you can be known,” she says. “Not just your name, but what you’re going through.”
She’s already seeing it happen – babies recognizing teachers, toddlers hugging friends, parents starting to text outside of class.
“I had a 6-month-old walk over to me and want to be picked up the other day,” she says, smiling. “I feel like I have nieces and nephews all over town.”
Forrester’s own friend circle has expanded in the process. And she’s quick to point out how grateful she is – to her husband, her parents, her support network, and the local families who are taking a chance on something new.
“This was always the dream,” she says. “Not just to own a business, but to do something meaningful. Something that helps people feel less alone.”