by Charlotte Merrick
May 8, 2025
Bloom 42: A Dream Come True
Small Business Week at the Navy Yard continues with a spotlight on Bloom 42, a beautiful and inspiring new event space at the Navy Yard—and the dream realized by founder Atiya Hobson.
Located on Kitty Hawk Avenue, Bloom 42 isn’t your typical event venue. What was once a café has been thoughtfully transformed by Atiya into a 4,000-square-foot, elegant-yet-cozy space designed for connection, celebration, and creativity. From hosting bridal showers and birthday parties to corporate gatherings and micro weddings, Bloom 42 is as flexible as it is stylish.
Atiya designed the space with a striking black-and-white palette, allowing clients to personalize it to match their own aesthetic and occasion. Her vision? To create a welcoming, blank canvas where people feel empowered to make the space their own.
“Bloom 42 is not your typical event space. It’s a place for people to gather and make it their own to celebrate important milestones and successes, or just to have a fun time with friends,” Atiya says.
But Bloom 42 is about more than events—it’s about empowerment and purpose. Atiya is passionate about working with local nonprofits to host events that uplift their missions and give back to the community. For her, Bloom 42 is a platform for impact and community building.
Atiya wasn’t originally planning to open her business at the Navy Yard—but when she found the space, she knew it was the right move. As a South Philadelphia native, she had long dreamed of creating something special in her own city. With the support of PIDC, she was able to bring Bloom 42 to life and help contribute to the Navy Yard’s transformation into a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood.
“I was inspired to be ready to build something unexpected,” she says.
The name Bloom 42 carries deep personal meaning for Atiya. At age 42, she was diagnosed with cancer—an experience that ultimately inspired her to reflect, reset, and reconnect with her true passion.
“I was surviving, not living,” she shares. “I wanted to start creating this business and stop wasting time not following my passion. I turned my sickness into an opportunity to bloom to the other side.”
Now, she’s inviting others to bloom too.
Atiya offers open houses and tours of Bloom 42 for those interested in hosting their next unforgettable event. You can follow her journey and learn more about the space by visiting her website or connecting with Bloom 42 on social media.