ST. GEORGE — A co-working space in St. George lets people get their work done on a table built from the recycled support beams of a co-owner's childhood home while sipping on local brews.
Office at 76 Bay opened up this month and lets workers, artists and entrepreneurs use the communal space overlooking the neighborhood's waterfront for $200 a month.
"Our design sense created this boutique kind of feel that I think inspires more creative thought than some of the more rigid spaces that are available," said Adrian Wilton, 27, co-owner of the space.
"We didn't go into IKEA and fill up a box truck. We built everything."
Membership gives people access to the large communal workspace, a conference room, free coffee and tea and mail collection. Owners Wilton and Aaron Lenza are also building an outdoor workspace and setting up a keg so members can sip on local brews while working.
Aside from the communal space, Office at 76 Bay lets people rent out private offices starting at $800 a month.
Wilton got the idea to launch the co-working space when she was looking for an office for herself. She owns Living Restoration and is working on a rooftop garden on top of the St. George Terminal. She travels to the borough most days from her home in Bushwick.
However, when she noticed the lack of coffee shops and places to work in the neighborhood, she met Lenza and the pair decided to create a space for co-working, the second in the area.
"I really needed a space in the area to just open up a computer that wasn't a bar with WiFi or a coffee shop that doesn't exist here," Wilton said.
"We decided instead of going with the original idea — which was having more designated office spaces — we were also going to open it up to co-working."
The two got the spot above Pier 76 pizzeria in December and had a soft-opening in February. They've already rented out two of their private offices and have four people who have signed up for memberships.
Aside from providing a spot for people to work, Lenza said they're trying to foster a community of people to share ideas inside the space.
"It's a place with enough peers and mentors that you have all the skill sets in the room to accomplish what you're doing," said Lenza, owner of Rooted Construction.
They also plan to host events like barbecues and turn the walls into a revolving gallery for local artists to display their work, music shows and community events.
So far, they have had an online CSA come in on Wednesdays with local artists to do food samplings.
The owners also launched a scholarship program — called 76 days — where young professionals can apply to get 76 days of free memberships and showcase their work.
