Entrepreneurs Seek to Bring Co-Working Space to Glen Ellyn

Craig Yerly knows coffee and business. As the owner of the Next Stop Coffee Shop he sees commuters grab a cup of coffee as they pass through the Metra train depot daily.

Yet, when he heads over to Starbucks in downtown Glen Ellyn, he sees all the workers who don’t commute, but who need a place to connect to the Internet and connect with clients.

Yerly and business partner Patt Karubus both thought there was a need for a co-working space for professionals who don’t have a dedicated office in the Glen Ellyn and Wheaton area. Co-working allows professionals to have a working space away from a job site.

To gauge interest in the co-working concept, Yerly and Karubas are holding three meetings to discuss the co-working option with professionals who might be interested. The meetings will be held March 21 at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. in Glen Ellyn

“I am not really aware of any [co-working spaces] in the western suburbs,” Karubus said. “I had this idea for some time. I was seeing it as a creative work space, a place to problem solve and incubate.”

Whether for those who are self-employed, who work in more artistic fields or who work in jobs requiring them to be offsite, a co-working space provides a place where professionals can conduct business and hold meetings, when needed.

The pair described the environment in promotional materials: "During the day this conveniently located co-working space is an office, a studio, a business incubator, a place to design and create, along with a meeting spot for organizations and clubs. It’s a place where things get done. By night, the adaptable space is transformed to accommodate special events, small gatherings, workshops, and classes. This space encourages casual, cafe-style interactions, while allowing people to disappear into personalized, private spaces when they want to be alone."

Both Yerly and Karubus think there is a need for such a space in the Glen Ellyn Wheaton areas. The pair have a location in mind that would require little build out, should they move forward with their plans. They also have a few models in mind as to how the space might work for those who use it and the pricing they would offer to clients.

“There is something about a coffee shop, we would like to try to capture that with that energy,” Yerly said. “It would have some of the feeling of a coffee shop in a co-working space.”

Karubus said a co-working space was a good option for new start-ups seeking to control costs, for attorneys needing meeting space or for nonprofits needing meeting rooms.

The pair expect the meetings they will be holding will provide a barometer for local interest.

If you are a business professional interested in learning more about the co-working space, three 90-minute meetings will be held on Thursday, March 21 at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. For more information and details on the meeting location send an e-mail to newcorneroffice@gmail.com.