CoworkBuffalo FAQ
Kevin Purdy
Question: What is coworking, exactly?
It’s for people who can work anywhere they can bring a laptop, whether part-time or full-time, and who want something different than the isolation of home and the distracting coffee shop scene. More so, it’s for people who get more done by having a place to go, people nearby, and a sense of of being part of a small, smart community.
That’s our take. Wikipedia nerds came to this consensus defintion:
Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values, and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.
What’s it like in there?
We just posted a few photos to our Twitter feed. We’ll likely have a set of professional photos up soon.
But, for reference:
* Eight brand new 200 cm desks: four arranged at a long table, two or three against a wall for “heads down time,” one or two in reserve for now.
Eight brand new office rocker chairs.
A phone booth (yes, really) for having more privacy on phone calls.
An adjoining office space that’s often available for in-person meetings (or more phone call space).
Windows with a view of City Hall, the new courthouse, and lots of blue sky.
A microwave, a small fridge, a sink and Brita pitcher, and (coming very soon) a coffee station.
Big whiteboard.
Free snacks.
Frames where members should hang their notable conference badges.
How could you honestly get more work done around other people?
At a minimum, there is great power in knowing that people can see how many Wikipedia tabs you have open, and whether or not you’re shooting things on your screen. More specifically, there are, sure, some small distractions of people chatting, getting up, and so on. But the big distractions of home (waiting on UPS, guilt over chores, entertainment) and coffee shops (variable music, close quarters, power/Wi-Fi limits) are gone.
How is the Wi-Fi??
Pretty solid. It’s a Verizon Business line, which means a stable, honest 7 mbps down. We’ve been pounding on it for a few weeks, and it holds up.
Where is CoworkBuffalo?
225 Delaware Ave., Suite 10. It’s the door to the right of Spot Coffee’s outdoor patio, up the stairs, and toward the end of the hall.
When are you open?
10am-6pm. Members and visitors who need earlier access can usually be accommodated, and monthly members could soon get keys.
Where can I park? How can I get there?
A few options:
The lot directly adjacent to CoworkBuffalo always has spots, and the maximum rate to 6pm is $6.
There are pockets of free and cheap street parking nearby. A favorite is Johnson Park, where there are sometimes $2 all-day meters.
Biking is quite convenient, as it’s free to park.
The Metro Rail stop at Fountain Plaza is three short blocks away.
How much does it cost to work at CoworkBuffalo?
$100 per month (which we’re pro-rating this month), $50 for 10 “flex” (use any day) passes, or $10 per day. Group discounts and other arrangements can also be negotiated.
How can I pay?
We’ll have a Stripe account set up to take credit card payments (Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover) on day one, and we can take cash. We’ll soon be taking PayPal as well.
Who’s launching this, and why?
Nick Quaranto, Kevin Purdy, Dan Magnuszewski, and Brian Fending. They are not doing this with the hopes of retiring early. They just want to try creating something neat and helpful for semi-nomadic workers like themselves.
What’s the coffee situation?
We’re going to be offering up Elm Street Bakery’s locally roasted coffee in fancy-schmancy ways very soon, for a very good price. Give us a week or two to work out the kinks, but expect good Chemex brews and Hario pour-over cups soon.
Otherwise, Spot Coffee is right downstairs, Starbucks is across the street, and Dunkin’ Donuts die-hards have a three-block walk. Bring your own mug to keep it warm longer.
Where can I eat nearby?
Nick created a handy-scan grid of Buffalo’s food trucks, so you can see when they’re on Main Streeet or otherwise nearby.
But the short list of nearby notables: Salsarita’s, Papaya, Spot, and Subway are very, very close, as is the Emerson School’s cafeteria, which has a wide variety of lunch offerings. There’s the Soho burger bar, Bada Bing’s, a pizza joint on Delaware, and quite a few other spots to be listed out soon.
I have more questions. Who do I contact?
Email: wo...@coworkbuffalo.com
Twitter: @CoworkBuffalo