Heidi Mueller in the Worker B production studio space where products are tested and created for the retail space. (James Perovich)
In the hall on the second floor of the Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, the air smells of beeswax and wildflower honey.
Worker B, located in Studio 260, is a locally grown business built on a shared passion for bees, sustainability and natural wellness. Glass jars of honey to sample line the counters while handmade skincare products are displayed on wooden hive-shaped shelves.
The company started with three beekeepers who wanted to work collaboratively to distribute unique varieties of honey. What began as a mission to uplift ethical beekeepers soon became a broader venture. “One of the founders started the skincare by making the recipe putty because she had dry hands,” said said Worker B’s new owner, Heidi Mueller, who took on the role last year.
Since stepping in, she’s restructured the brand’s operations, adding more employees, and expanding the Northrup King location.
From humble beginnings at local fairs and farmers markets, Worker B opened its first retail location inside NKB — later expanding with a second storefront at the Mall of America. However, the business eventually closed its mall shop to focus on selling and creating products in one space.
“We still work with a lot of the same beekeepers,” Mueller said. “One of them from Minnesota, we’ve been working with since the beginning and we use his basswood in all of our skincare.” All of the skincare products are created in a production studio down the hall from their shop.
Mueller has increased the store’s selection of honey with flavors from across the globe. Worker B now offers varieties like orange blossom, sunflower, raspberry, and other region-specific flavors — including hard-to-find honey from African beekeepers.
Alongside raw honey, the shop offers handcrafted skincare products — salves, balms, and lip treatments are the most popular—designed without synthetic ingredients. Customers regularly venture into the shop specifically asking for natural health products. “We’ll have people come in and they say ‘I hear this is good for allergies.’ People are looking for those healthy remedies,” said James Perovich, Worker B’s creative director.
One of Worker B’s largest events of the year is Art-A-Whirl®. “I love the vibe and the people,” Mueller said. “It goes by fast, and is non-stop in here.” Though the business has grown, its roots remain deeply tied to the Northeast artist community. “There’s over 400 artists here. I just had two studio mates come down from the hall to say hi, so it’s nice,” Mueller said. “They’re essentially my coworkers.”