By Mickayla Poland

From Pizza Dough to Bee Hives

David Smith of Emporium, in what seems like a lifelong pursuit of new challenges, went from award-winning pizza to award-winning honey.

David is the owner of Palace Apiaries, a family-run beekeeping operation based in Cameron County. Long before Palace Apiaries became known for its honey, bees, and handcrafted beeswax products, David built a different kind of local legacy through Pizza Palace Plus, the restaurant he owned and operated for 23 years.

“We won Best Pizza in America twice,” David says casually, as though national recognition is just simply part of his story. But behind that modest statement is a lifetime of hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to try something new.

Today, at 64 years old, David has lived in Emporium his entire life. He and his wife raised six children and now enjoy life surrounded by many grandchildren. David is a full-time beekeeper managing approximately 40 bee yards spread throughout Elk, Cameron, and Potter Counties. Palace Apiaries has gained recognition not only for its wild, raw honey harvested from untreated bees but also for its reputation in the beekeeping world. In 2018, the apiary was awarded Best Honey in America by the Good Food Awards Foundation and later became a semi-finalist for Best Honey in the World.

Not bad for something that started almost by accident.

“At a pizza competition in Columbus, Ohio, I asked one of the competitors what was new,” David recalls. “He said he started beekeeping and loved it. So I went home and gave it a try.”

That simple conversation changed everything.

Learning the Bees

Unlike many trades passed down through generations, David entered beekeeping with little experience. He taught himself through online resources, commercial beekeeping YouTube videos, and a few classes through Penn State.

“I wanted to learn from the people that maintain bees for a living, not the hobbyists,” he says.

That determination helped Palace Apiaries grow quickly, though not without challenges.

“Keeping the bees alive, and making the time to do the work properly,” David says when asked about the hardest part of the job. “It’s a very time-consuming process.”

As demand grew, balancing both the restaurant and the apiary became increasingly difficult. Over time, the bees demanded more of his attention, more of his energy, and more of his heart. Eventually, David decided to sell the restaurant to one of his daughters and dedicate himself fully to Palace Apiaries.

Life Inside the Hive

Beekeeping follows an intense seasonal rhythm that requires constant attention. The rhythm of David’s year revolves around the bees.

Winter becomes the “off-season.” During those colder months, David spends much of his time in the woodshop building equipment and preparing for the year ahead. “Spring is when the bees want to swarm, so you have to add room to each hive,” he explains. “Summer is when queen rearing happens, and many new hives are created. Fall is when the honey gets extracted, and bees get prepared for winter.”

The work never truly stops.

“If it were easy, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

More Than Honey

While honey remains at the heart of Palace Apiaries, the business has naturally expanded over time in response to customer requests.

In addition to selling bees, queens, nucs, and bulk honey, David and his family also create beeswax-based products, including handcrafted soap, lip balm, cracked hands cream, and other body products.

Their products can be found locally through Pizza Palace Plus and the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce.

David is quick to share some surprising insights into beekeeping.  “The time and money it takes to get started,” he says, is something most people underestimate. “You spend 500 dollars for fencing and protective gear before you can have bees.”

And yes, he confirms, you will get stung. “But the reaction lessens over time,” he says.

But at the end of the day David believes creativity is essential in beekeeping too.

“I think beekeepers are some of the most creative people you will find,” he says. “We are always looking for ways to improve the process, and the bees will quickly show you what doesn’t work.”

Creating in the PAGO 

There’s no separating Palace Apiaries from the landscape around it. The mountains, forests, and changing seasons of the PA Great Outdoors Region shape every aspect of the business.

“This region influences ALL businesses,” David says. “I absolutely love this area.”

That appreciation for the outdoors is one of the biggest reasons he continues the demanding work of beekeeping.

“My favorite part is being outdoors,” he says. “I like to think I am helping the local environment as well.”

From award-winning pizza to award-winning honey, David Smith has found a second calling in Palace Apiaries. Through his commitment to curiosity and craftsmanship, one thing is clear: David has a passion for doing things well…and the bees seem to agree.

Where to Find Palace Apiaries

Palace Apiaries products, including honey and beeswax body products, can be found locally through Pizza Palace Plus and the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce.

You can also learn more about Palace Apiaries online through their social media and follow along with their beekeeping journey on Facebook.