Hammering It Out: Two Chicks And Their Story

what is going on with two chicks and a hammer

Two Chicks and a Hammer is a home renovation company founded by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, in Indianapolis in 2009. The company was featured on the HGTV show Good Bones, which ended in 2023 after eight seasons. Mina has shared that the final seasons of the show were emotionally and mentally challenging, and that the family business was strained by COVID-19. In 2023, Two Chicks and a Hammer closed their home décor retail storefront, Two Chicks District Co., citing numerous challenges. The company appears to still be in business, with Mina continuing to renovate homes and work on new projects.

Characteristics Values
Founder Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine
Current Owner Mina Starsiak Hawk
Co-founder's retirement Karen E. Laine retired in 2019
Retail store Permanently closed at the end of 2023
New storefront In Noblesville, Ind
Mina's podcast Mina AF
Mina's husband Steve Hawk
Mina's children Jack and Charlotte
Mina's mental health Mina felt the weight of the long-running series and found the last two seasons of Good Bones "really hard emotionally and mentally, financially and physically"
Mina's financial situation Mina couldn't pay her crew and couldn't keep finding houses to fix on a TV schedule
Mina's strained relationship with her mother Mina shared that her relationship with her mother was not as perfect as it looked on the show

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Two Chicks and a Hammer is closing its retail store, Two Chicks District Co

Two Chicks and a Hammer is a home renovation and design company founded by mother-daughter duo Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine in 2009. The company gained prominence through their HGTV show "Good Bones," which ran for eight seasons from 2015 to 2023. The show followed the pair as they renovated homes in their Indianapolis neighborhood, focusing on revitalizing the area one property at a time.

In addition to the retail store closure, there have been reports of strained family dynamics and financial struggles within the business. Mina has been open about the challenges, sharing on her podcast, Mina AF, that the final two seasons of "Good Bones" were "really hard emotionally and mentally, financially and physically." She also revealed that she and her mother did not have a perfect relationship, contrary to what was portrayed on the show.

Despite the closure of Two Chicks District Co., Two Chicks and a Hammer is still in business. The company continues to focus on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates-Hendricks, and the surrounding areas. Mina, who has been running the company solo since Karen's retirement in 2019, is able to complete around 14 houses per year.

In March 2024, the Two Chicks and a Hammer Instagram account announced that they were opening a new storefront in Noblesville, Indiana. Mina and her husband, Steve Hawk, have also been documenting the renovation of their lake house.

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Mina Starsiak Hawk is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, Karen E. Laine

Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, are no longer on speaking terms due to a rift in their relationship. The mother-daughter duo starred in the HGTV show Good Bones, which followed their renovation company, Two Chicks and a Hammer. The show ended in 2023 after eight seasons, and Mina revealed that the drama between her and her mother had escalated during the filming of the final season.

Mina and Karen had a "knockdown drag-out [fight]" during the filming of the first episode of season 8, which aired in August 2023. Around the same time, Mina told listeners of her podcast, Mina AF, that she was not on good terms with her mother. She also shared that she had set boundaries with certain people in her life, including her mother, who were no longer contributing positively to her mental and emotional health.

The cause of the rift between Mina and Karen cannot be pinpointed to one thing. Mina has described it as a "cumulative situation" of things that have created the current situation. She has also said that family businesses are hard enough, and the portrayal of their relationship on the show as being perfect was not an accurate representation of their dynamic.

The strain in their relationship was also affected by the challenges faced by their family business, which included financial struggles, the impact of COVID-19, and burnout among the small team. Mina has also disclosed that she bought her mother out of the company back in 2019 due to their differences and the financial responsibility falling solely on her shoulders.

In October 2023, Mina revealed on her podcast that Karen had reached out to her via text, suggesting that they should talk. However, Mina shared that they had not spoken in a long time and that she didn't know how to respond. Despite the rift, Mina has chosen to retain the name "Two Chicks and a Hammer" for their company, explaining that they had built the business together despite her mother stepping back from it in 2019.

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Mina is facing financial struggles and is unable to pay her crew

Mina Starsiak Hawk, the HGTV star and founder of Two Chicks and a Hammer, has been facing financial struggles that have impacted her ability to pay her crew. The company, which she started with her mother, Karen E. Laine, has been through several challenges in recent years.

One significant factor contributing to Mina's financial struggles is the strain on the family business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a podcast episode, Mina shared that the small team was not enjoying each other's company, and everyone was feeling burnt out and miserable. This dynamic likely affected their productivity and ability to collaborate effectively, hindering their financial stability.

Additionally, Mina has been open about the emotional, mental, and financial toll of her long-running series, Good Bones. She has stated that she felt the weight of the show falling on her, suggesting that she bore a significant financial burden. The high stakes and pressure took a toll on her well-being, and she decided to end the show after eight seasons. Mina's decision to prioritize her mental health and avoid returning to a challenging work environment demonstrates her recognition of the impact of these struggles on her overall well-being.

The closure of their home décor retail store, Two Chicks District Co., at the end of 2023, further exacerbated Mina's financial challenges. The store faced numerous challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mina made the difficult decision to close it down. This closure not only impacted their revenue stream but also reflected the financial strain the business was facing.

Mina's financial struggles have had a direct impact on her crew. While there are no reports of Mina being sued for non-payment, it is speculated that her inability to pay crew members contributed to the end of the Good Bones show. Mina's decision to prioritize her crew's welfare and not overextend herself financially speaks to her character and awareness of the challenges they collectively face.

Despite these struggles, Mina remains focused on her business and has expressed a desire to continue working with her production company. She has also shared that she is renovating a lake house with her husband, documenting the process, and exploring new storefront opportunities in Noblesville, Indiana. While Mina navigates financial challenges, her commitment to her work and crew remains evident.

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The HGTV show Good Bones ended after eight seasons

Mina Starsiak Hawk announced the end of the show on her podcast, Mina AF, in 2023, calling it the "end of an era". She revealed that the decision to end the show was made together with the network, HGTV, and that she felt a lot of stress and responsibility while filming. Mina also shared that the final two seasons of Good Bones were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially and physically".

The end of the show also brought about changes to the Two Chicks and a Hammer business. Mina closed their home décor retail store, Two Chicks District Co., at the end of 2023, citing challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and burnout among the small team. She also redesigned the company logo, making the "Two Chicks" part smaller and emphasising "Hammer" to lean into the construction side of the business.

While Good Bones ended after eight seasons, Mina Starsiak Hawk has expressed that she would return to TV under the right circumstances. She has also continued her podcast and taken on personal renovation projects, such as purchasing and renovating a lake house with her husband, which they are documenting.

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Mina is now focusing on renovating homes full-time

Mina Starsiak Hawk is now focusing on renovating homes full-time. Mina and her mother, Karen E. Laine, started the company Two Chicks and a Hammer in 2007, and the company has been renovating homes in Indianapolis ever since. Despite Laine retiring from the business in 2019, the company name and logo have remained the same, with Mina explaining that it would be "inappropriate" to change it.

Two Chicks and a Hammer has faced several challenges in recent years, including strained family dynamics, financial difficulties, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's retail storefront, Two Chicks District Co., also closed at the end of 2023 due to challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mina has been open about the struggles, sharing on her podcast, Mina AF, that the final two seasons of Good Bones were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically."

In addition to the retail store closing, the HGTV show Good Bones, which followed the renovation company, also ended after eight seasons. Mina has expressed that returning to a similar show would be a "bad decision" for her mentally and emotionally, and that there is "not enough money in the world" to relive the end of Good Bones. However, Mina is still involved in renovations and has mentioned that she is renovating a lake house with her husband, Steve Hawk, which they are documenting.

Despite the challenges and changes, Two Chicks and a Hammer continues to focus on its mission of 'Revitalizing Indianapolis One Property at a Time'. Mina is now the sole owner and operator of the company, renovating around 14 houses a year in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and the surrounding areas. While the company has faced difficulties, Mina remains dedicated to her work and is committed to continuing to renovate and revitalise homes in her community.

Frequently asked questions

Two Chicks and a Hammer is a renovation company founded by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, in 2009. The company has been the focus of HGTV's Good Bones, which ended in 2023 after eight seasons.

Mina Starsiak Hawk, the host of Good Bones, has cited several reasons for the show's ending, including the strain in the family business caused by COVID-19, financial pressures, and the emotional and mental toll of filming.

Two Chicks and a Hammer closed their home décor retail storefront, Two Chicks District Co., at the end of 2023 due to numerous challenges. The company continues to sell products online.

Yes, Two Chicks and a Hammer is still in operation, focusing on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and the surrounding areas in Indianapolis.

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