THE BE NICE HOUSE

This is the story about how a cool couple connected with a growing company through a cultural and community bent approach to doing business whereby the crossing of paths led to an impressive combination of good people and purpose-driven place promoting good vibes and a meaningful mantra to live by – Be Nice.

Built in 1935, the simple block building at 511 Edgewood Avenue was born to Be Nice. ‘35 was a big year for individual accomplishment. The year started off with a-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom when Elvis Presley was born on January 8th in Tupelo, MS. Other rockstar moments included Mickey Mouse appearing in color, Amelia Earhart crossing the Pacific in solo flight, and Babe Ruth taking his last at bat. What do all these milestone memories have in common? The ability of a single presence to lift us up, much like the guiding principle painted on the side of the Be Nice building does today.

Fundamental truths and belief systems do not develop overnight, nor did Edgewood Avenue. Suffering from bisected street grids and hard times courtesy of systemic racism, the Be Nice building bore witness to the trials and tribulations of the Civil Rights Movement – and its triumphs – led by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his SCLC offices just a few blocks away at the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge on Auburn Avenue. The accomplishments of King and other leaders not only paved the way toward a more just society, but also continue to provide a strong cultural draw to the neighborhood helping to attract investment via historic preservation and new development, along with plenty of pizza, coffee, beer, patrons, and growing businesses. 

Entrepreneurs Kat Cole and Daley Ervin moved to Atlanta from Brooklyn with business ambition, a future family in mind, and a desire to find meaningful and aesthetic connections to New York – tall ceilings, big windows, exposed brick, palpable energy and walkable communities. To meet their cultural needs Kat and Daley enlisted Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate to help find an investment project that checked architectural boxes, spoke to their ethos, and had the opportunity for future upside.

With help from Kansas, the couple bought 511 Edgewood, a property that offered promise and a lot of work to be done. For many years, the building had been the live/work home to designer and musician Steve Ellison, before he sold and moved north towards Asheville. In addition to the talents employed in his own career, Ellison also had a knack for hand-painted signage, displayed most notably through the Be Nice message he felt obligated to outwardly share. In addition to Steve, other occupants over the years included a yoga studio, a welding studio, a church, and a mechanic shop to name a few. The next chapter would continue to bring change and makers of it.

Today the Be Nice House is home to LOCAL Industries, a group of forward-thinking professionals who pay homage to the message on the side of the building through an artful approach to purposeful work and community contribution. Focused on Change Marketing, LOCAL helps companies around the world achieve lasting improvements through their values-driven focus.   

Like Daley and Kat, LOCAL wanted a building that spoke to them, and therefore had taken up residence at Constellations, Kansas’ civic and socially based workspace in Sweet Auburn. While there, LOCAL Co-Founders Brooke Wright, Andrew Osterday and Neil Bedwell hired GK|CRE to help find the perfect next spot to accommodate their growing team. Having helped Kat and Daley acquire Be Nice, Kansas knew the vibe and meaning would resonate with LOCAL and brought the partners to Chrome Yellow for an afternoon cup and a tour of what would become their new home directly next door. 

Brooke looks back: “We were ready for a place to call home for our team. From our first meeting, Gene totally caught our vision for a homey clubhouse.” It was clear that the innovative agency was looking for something distinctly LOCAL and fell in love with Be Nice at first sight. But first, a deal had to be made and the building needed some TLC. Through good synergy, leadership and super talented designers, both would soon occur. 

Now in a development leadership role, Daley connected with longtime GK|CRE friends and collaborators David Yocum and Brian Bell with BLDGS Architects to help give the Be Nice House a refresh and the care it deserved. Always providing ample thought to their projects, BLDGS is devoted to community and aims to design spaces that “support our collective health.” Creatively paying attention to under-appreciated aspects of their projects has earned BLDGS a reputation of designing incredible places providing transformational and inspiring spaces for businesses to thrive.

With Daley developing, BLDGS delivering stunning architecture, and incredbily beautiful interior design direction by Brooke, the stars aligned and the House took shape. With vision came fruition, and, as if by magic, all parties now had a solution to make their dreams come true. The Be Nice House was ready. The final product was a labor of love, lots of hard work, and a spot of good luck, plus tons of positive energy. Want to enjoy the final product yourself? Check out LOCAL’s meetings and events options and enjoy!