Making 1221
our home
sweet home
HELLO
We’re The Rockabees, a group of 60,000 honeybees that live on the 8th-floor setback of 1221 Avenue of the Americas. In 2024, we joined in Rockefeller Group’s commitment to promote biodiversity and support the environment and gave you the chance to name us. Since then, we’ve been busy at work, not only pollinating and producing honey, but making a real difference.
We have the sweetest gig ever. We get to help the city while taking in the sights. Never thought I’d be an NYC Bee, but here I am!
– Larry
WELCOME TO OUR HIVE
Welcome to OUR HIVE
See all our comings and goings from right inside
one of our hives, courtesy of our Live Hive Cam.
Working hard? Or hardly working? One peek into our hive and you’ll realize where the term “busy bee” came from.
– Queen B
FACTS & FIGURES
All in a Day’s Work
Here’s a sweet snapshot of who we are and what we
do. Make sure to check back, as we’ll be adding
facts and stats as the season progresses.
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Average Speed →
X
We can reach speeds of up to 20mph when we’re searching for food, which is about the same speed as a running back. So yeah, we’re fast.
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Average Distance →
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We’ll travel up to 4 miles in search of food, or around 45 miles per day. Sure, it’s nothing compared to the 180 miles a NY taxi drives each day, but our wings need a rest too.
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Our Commute →
X
It’s 1.5 miles to the middle of Central Park from 1221 Avenue of the Americas, which is about the distance of the Williamsburg Bridge.
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Our Workforce →
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There are about 60,000 of us worker bees at 1221, which probably makes us the largest tenant in the world.
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Our Honey →
X
We’re on track to produce 135lbs of honey – or the weight of the average hot dog cart.
ABOUT US
Why we
Came to Bee
Our honeybee hive was added to 1221 Avenue of the Americas as a simple way to support urban biodiversity. In a city of concrete, we play a vital role pollinating trees, flowers, and gardens that keep ecosystems thriving. By creating this hive, we’re free to play a more prominent role in the neighborhood while positively impacting the food system. The honey we make is an oh-so-sweet bonus, but our real goal is to help make a healthier, more sustainable city.
We’re so much more than just hard-working honey-makers, so it’s nice to get credit where credit is due!
– Frankie
Meet the King
Bee: Andrew
Allow us to introduce our human, Andrew Coté — a fourth-generation bee-whisperer and the brains behind Andrew’s Local Honey. He’s been leading the charge in urban hive-life, placing our homes all over New York City — from Westchester rooftops to the penthouses of the Waldorf Astoria to 1221 Avenue of the Americas. We’re lucky to have him. And his honey? The bee’s knees. If you get a chance to get your hands on some of NY’s best nectar, buzz to it.
Andrew’s the real deal. He keeps our hive humming, our combs cozy, and never skimps on the sweet stuff.
– Bobby
MORE FROM US
Honey
Beats
If you’re looking for some tunes to boost your mood, look no further than our playlist which was curated by our in-house DJ, to keep us in sweet spirits. And as the seasons change, so does our mood — so check back for our new mixes!
Get buzzin with the sweetest mixes this side of the Hudson.
– Leroy
The Hito-Machi
Award
We’re still on hive 9 for being nominated for The Hito-Machi Awards, an annual program that recognizes projects and awards initiatives that enhance Mitsubishi Estate Group’s corporate values.
We may not have won, but we definitely had the sweetest entry.
– Jermaine
WHERE WE FLY
Our Flight Paths
Being in the world’s sweetest neighborhood has its
perks. Here are our 5 fave places to rest our wings
after zipping around all day.
If you’re not big on the touristy spots, buzz over to the hot dog stand at 6th and 50th. Best honey mustard in the world.
– Kristoff
MOMA
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When we want to pollinate our minds with some art, culture, and visit our neighbors, we buzz over to the MOMA, which has 4 hives of their own.
11 WEST 53RD STREET
Bryant Park
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When we’re looking for a breather and want to lounge in some clover, we wing it over to Bryant Park for lunch. It’s our favorite spot to pollenate and chill.
Between 5th & 6th Ave, 40th & 42nd Street
Waldorf Astoria
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When we’re feeling fancy and want to rub wings with other high-flyers, we zip over to Waldorf Astoria to hang with 360,000 bees at their hive.
301 Park Avenue
Rockefeller Plaza
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Rockefeller Plaza is always abuzz. With flowers that bloom, a hustle that bustles, and a glorious view from our hive, it’s the perfect landmark to take in when we want to chill out.
45 Rockefeller Plaza
