Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot poses in front of Hendershot’s, located at 237 Prince Ave., on March 20. Hendershot founded the business in 2010, and after 15 years, made the decision to sell it on March 9. “It was (in the) fall of last year (when) I was like, ‘Okay, I’m burnt out. I’m struggling financially. (My wife) is working full-time and really toeing the line for our family. I’ve got to do something different,’” Hendershot said. Photo by Iliana Tejada
Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot discusses his business’s impact on the Athens community and his decision to sell it after 15 years.
Variety Editor Adah Hamman: What was your relationship with music like before starting Hendershot’s?
Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot: I started playing music, particularly drums, at a pretty early age. I was (around) eight or nine (when) a friend of mine (moved) and left me his drum set. My dad played a little bit in college, (and) he showed me a couple (of) things. I started playing, and I fell in love with it. I started taking drum lessons and joined the (middle and then high school) marching band. I (was also in) a couple of bands through high school, so I’ve been in love with music for a very long time. After high school, it was all I wanted to do.
AH: What inspired you to start Hendershot’s?
SH: When I moved (to Athens in 1998), I needed a job, so I put (in) an application at Jittery Joe’s. (Over time), I managed a couple of (locations), still playing music all the while, (and in) that time, I learned about business. I (also) fell in love with the community that surrounded (Athens, including the) clubs Downtown that I was playing music at and (Jittery Joe’s). I (thought), “Maybe I could open up a place one day.”
Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot talks to customers at Hendershot’s on March 20. Hendershot moved the business from its location at 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. to 237 Prince Ave. in 2013 with help from the community. “We moved (the business) in one day. We had a show that night, and it was so cool to be a part of that,” Hendershot said. “All we’ve done since then is grow our community and grow the things that we love to do. With the bigger space, we’re able to do more of it.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
AH: What was the process of starting Hendershot’s like?
SH: (My family and I) were driving out of (Forest Heights) one day, (and) there was this little garage that was at the end of (it). (My wife) was like, “That’s your spot.” (It) was next door to a pizza place, (and the owner of the garage) told me, “You’d have to sublease from (the owners of the pizza place).” I went and talked with (them, and) they thought it sounded like a great idea, so all was well and good. (Then, that summer), I tried to go to (the) bank to get a loan, and they were like, “No way.” I (started) talking to some friends about it, and one of (them) was like, “My wife and I might be able to help you financially,” so they invested, (and Hendershot’s) opened in August (of 2010).
AH: Why did you decide to relocate Hendershot’s in 2013 from the original location at 1560 Oglethorpe Ave. to where it is now at 237 Prince Ave.?
SH: About three years after (opening Hendershot’s), there was a dispute over the rent. The landlord jacked the rent up because he was like, “Wow, this is really coming to life. You guys can afford more money.” We had a back and forth with the (owners of the pizza place that we) were subleasing from, and they didn’t want to pay any more, so I was like, “Well, if we can’t split this somehow, then I can’t stay here.” They were like, “Well, guess you gotta go,” so we made the choice to go. At that time, (historic mixed-use development) Bottleworks was a dead zone, so the real estate agent (who) was trying to lease properties there came to us and was like, “We’ll give you a really good deal.” Then, my original investors came on as partners, along with my brother (Josh), and the four of us opened this place.
“As a musician, particularly as a drummer, I get to play a lot of different styles of music. I can play jazz, rock, reggae, metal, hip-hop and country. I love all kinds of music, so I didn’t want (Hendershot’s) to just be a rock club or a country club or a jazz club. I wanted to have it all. That’s part of it. The other part of it is coffee shops (have), historically, (been) a place where people of all walks of life gathered.”
AH: What’s one of your favorite memories from the early days of Hendershot’s?
SH: The story I love to tell is (about) the last night at the (original Hendershot’s location). We (were having) a big concert, (and) I figured, “It’s Friday night. Tomorrow is Saturday. I’ve got all day. I’ve got a hand truck. I’ll come down here and start moving stuff.” Everybody knew we were moving that weekend. I got down to (Hendershot’s) the next morning, and there were (around) 10 cars and trucks with people with gloves and hand trucks. It was incredible. We had created (a) community, and not even intentionally. It was the nature of (Hendershot’s), the people that came there (and) the way we interacted (with each other). It was really special.
Members of the 2023-24 iliad Editorial Board pose during the 2023 iliad Literary Art Magazine Student Showcase at Hendershot’s on Aug. 30. Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot founded the business in 2010 and has since seen the surrounding community grow. “I think (the community) grew out of all those things: showing up, doing what you say you’re going to do and having a space for people to gather,” Hendershot said. Photos from the ODYSSEY archives
AH: Why do you think Hendershot’s has become a cultural hub for different artists to come and share their work?
SH: As a musician, particularly as a drummer, I get to play a lot of different styles of music. I can play jazz, rock, reggae, metal, hip-hop and country. I love all kinds of music, so I didn’t want (Hendershot’s) to just be a rock club or a country club or a jazz club. I wanted to have it all. That’s part of it. The other part of it is coffee shops (have), historically, (been) a place where people of all walks of life gathered. (They’ve) always been intended for that, so I think that helps draw people in, (as well).
A March 9 Instagram post from Hendershot’s account announcing its closing is shown. According to Hendershot’s owner and founder Seth Hendershot, the decision to close was made after the business experienced various setbacks dating back to COVID-19. “Once I made the announcement, I got off of social media because I didn’t know what was going to happen, but a couple of people were like, ‘There’s a lot of love here. You should check it out,’” Hendershot said. “A couple (of) days later, I was scrolling through (Instagram), and I was like, “Oh, man. This is beautiful.” Post fair use of Hendershot’s
AH: What impact do you think Hendershot’s has had on the community?
SH: I think it’s a special place for a lot of people, for a bunch of different reasons. Some people finished their dissertations here, some people wrote their theses here, some people proposed to their girlfriend here (and) some people got married here. There’s so many of those moments here for so many different people. When everybody shares a space with a different memory attached to it, that’s really special.
