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Working Together
Lowcountry Local First opening new coworking space, looking to fill spots BY SKYLER BALDWIN
The local business advocacy group is much of our space as local as possible.” expanding its coworking space, Local Works, For now, the few partners that have with a new, bigger location. While larger returned to work are serving as the start of a groups like WeWork, an office-leasing budding coworking community, and there’s company, have been in this area of business plenty of space left. for some time, Local Works is providing a “We are pretty low, and I think a lot of it is smaller, more local take on office-space shar- because people aren’t ready to come back yet,” ing in Charleston. said Kaylee Schuh, LLF’s accountant and busi“We had been talking about it, and we ness services manager. “We’ve noticed in our wanted to do it, but it wasn’t anything that inquiries in Local Works — when they come was high up on our to-do list,” Schuh said. “It to do a tour, when they communicate with me was kind of a fantasy, something that, maybe — people just aren’t comfortable.” in five years we’d see where we were at. That’s why creating a safe space for incom“But with the pandemic and everything ing partners was high on the list of priorities. shutting down,” she said, “it was the perfect Masks are mandatory, even when working storm that allowed us to expand and create at a desk, unless you’re working in one of this wonderful space that’s going to be so the nine available private offices with four much more useful to our local businesses and enclosed walls or one of the two conference entrepreneurs.” rooms, which are currently The new space is almost “With the pandemic limited to half capacity. entirely built and furnished It’s a drastic change of and everything for local businesses, by pace from the previous local businesses. From space at 1600 Meeting St., shutting down it was couches to tables, busia smaller location with only the perfect storm nesses like Celadon and one available office space. that allowed us to GDC are represented. There was even a waitMeeting Green gives the expand and create this list for many awaiting an space a spot of color with open space. Moving would wonderful space that’s have normally meant lost potted plants, and local artists’ work is displayed revenue, but the pandemic going to be so much brilliantly in bright murals opened an unlikely window more useful to our throughout. of time for the move. local businesses and “Our whole business As businesses across is with local entreprethe city begin to open entrepreneurs.” neurs and sort of creating up once again, spaces at —Kaylee Schuh, LLF’s accountant this local essence here in Local Works will likely and business services manager Charleston,” Schuh said. fill up fast. There are “We really tried with Local multiple different types of Works to support local businesses, people spaces available ranging in scale and privacy. who needed an office space that didn’t really Contact Lowcountry Local First for more have that, in an affordable way while still information on how to become a coworker at staying on mission.” Local Works. Even the construction style, an exposed LLF is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony wooden look, is representative of the lumber Friday at the new location, letting some of yard Local Works shares its space with. the key contributors to the space see the “These are the woods they made here, and finished product for the first time. The event we really wanted to pay homage to that will be small-scale and closed to the public, heritage,” Schuh said. “Our architect David but it will be streamed live for all supporters Thompson really did a great job keeping as and partners to join at a safe distance.
Photos provided
LOCAL WORKS’ INDOOR SPACE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY FURNISHED AND DECORATED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES, CRAFTSMEN AND ARTISTS
NEWS | charlestoncitypaper.com
Offices and working environments have been changed forever due to the coronavirus pandemic, and many businesses will need to rethink the need for dedicated office space moving forward as more and more people prove capable of working remotely. Now, Lowcountry Local First is getting ahead of the curve.
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