Apotheke owner Chrissy Fichtl, her husband Sebastian Picasso, and their daughter Penelope
Red Hook, with its old warehouses and piers, is a living monument to Brooklyn’s industrial heyday. And while the neighborhood today is quieter and more residential, The O’Connell Organization is dedicated to attracting local manufacturers to Red Hook and its abundant warehouse space.
Apotheke Soap and Candle Co. is a Brooklyn-based company that manufactures natural, handmade soaps, candles, and body products. Owner Chrissy Fichtl started the company in the kitchen of her one-bedroom apartment in Bed-Stuy. She made her products and packaged them by hand in her kitchen, and Apotheke keeps that handmade spirit alive today… only in a bigger space.
Apotheke’s new space in Red Hook
“I was lucky to have West Elm Market in Dumbo place an order that was so big that I had to move the operation to a studio space to fill the order,” says Chrissy. “Exciting and scary all at once. We moved across the street to an old notebook factory on Bedford Ave. It was 400 square feet. I remember thinking it was so big — we outgrew the space in a year.”
Employees of Apotheke getting an order ready
Apotheke found their new home in Red Hook at 48 Coffey Street. “Moving to Red Hook was a simple decision,” Chrissy explains, “We always come to Red Hook on our free time. Coming from a really busy street like Bedford Ave to Red Hook is like going on a vacation. The air even smells different — like the beach. The best part about working here is that it feels peaceful and really good to sit outside and have lunch in front of the factory or walk the baby all around town. Our goal is to relocate entirely here.”
Deny and Auri testing scented soy candles
Chrissy describes Deny and Auri, sisters from the Dominican Republic, as “The hardest workers I have ever met. They can wrap more soaps per hour than any machine in the world!”
Apotheke manufactures a variety of scented products, including bath and shaving soaps, bath salts, room sprays, and all manner of personal care products such as face gels and body balm.
Apotheke also offers a number of Room Diffuser kits for those who feel a little uneasy about flames indoors.
All of Apotheke’s products are handmade in Brooklyn, and you can find their products all over Brooklyn and New York, as well as multiple other locations in the US, Europe, and Japan. Apotheke is a regular presence at the Brooklyn Flea, and you can also purchase their products online.
Penelope, “the boss”