Although Nick Winkler considered the neglected building on Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown a disaster when he first visited, he saw potential.

“I could see transforming it into a place where people could work together,” he said.

Less than a year later, the building became Work2gether, a modern co-working space that not only brings people together but also benefits other businesses in the heart of Downingtown.

Co-working spaces are flexible and affordable office spaces that are ideal for businesses, entrepreneurs, and freelancers. These spaces provide workers with a built-in framework of essential business services, amenities, and, most importantly, people with whom to network and collaborate.

The idea for Work2gether “came out of nowhere,” according to Winkler, who co-owns the business with his wife Melinda.

“I was the typical person working out of a home,” he said, “but ultimately that wasn’t feasible with three kids. So I started doing what everybody does by going to Wegmans or a coffee shop. But you never feel professional when you tell someone to meet you at a grocery store.”

[uam_ad id=”58459″]

Advertisement

Winkler’s first exposure to co-working came when he found some quiet space in an old warehouse, where a friend had his own designated work area. Working alongside his friend while running his marketing company (his other business), it was the first time Winkler actually worked with another professional in a place other than a grocery store or coffee shop.

“There was one moment that really stuck out for me,” he said. “I needed a designer, and I turned my chair around and asked my friend if he knew anyone. He did, and that person has been working for me for the past year.”

That intangible, the ability to network and collaborate with someone in a designated work space, inspired Winkler to consider his own co-working business, an industry that has been growing at an average annual rate of 23 percent since 2010.

“I didn’t even know the word ‘co-working’ existed,” he said, “but I knew there are people who want to work with other people.”

It was during that time he began searching for available spaces, hoping to find something in Downingtown where he grew up and where his family remains. The first site he visited, that neglected building adjoining the popular Amani’s BYOB restaurant, was where he eventually settled.

Refurbishing the site was “a total gut job,” he said, “but we wanted to keep a modern industrial feel to it because Downingtown still has its industrial roots. So we aimed for a professional space that still fit with the area. We started construction in March of 2017, and on Oct. 10, we opened our doors.”

Access to Work2gether is by membership, and the various workspace plans will fit the business needs of any individual or group. The “On-Demand” plan, for example, is ideal for freelancers or business travelers seeking a workspace for less than a week per month. The “Flex” plan is for remote and part-time workers who need the space for more than a week, while the “Dedicated” plan is best for everyday use, perhaps for independent business owners and startups.

[uam_ad id=”58459″]

Advertisement

Work2gether also offers enclosed, private offices for small companies to use, as well as a lounge and conference room.

Members of Work2gether, or the “Community” as they are called, are a mix of people who are self-employed or are remote employees.

According to Winkler, “the common thread was that everybody wanted a place where they can come that’s professional and where they can interact with other people. Work2gether has become more than just an office for working; it’s a place for collaboration, where you can grab a cup of coffee or a beer, or take a break, grab a fellow member and play a game of shuffleboard. It’s become a community for professionals.”

Another benefit Winkler has observed is the economic impact the co-working space has on the downtown area.

“You have members who are coming on a daily basis and shopping,” he said. “They’re getting their haircut next door, buying flowers, and frequenting the restaurants and other establishments that are here in Downingtown. I think that’s a great use of this kind of space.”

Work2gether also benefits when those in nearby businesses seek out his co-working spaces or conference room for a professional environment in which to hold off-site meetings.
Comprehensive details of each workspace plan are shown here.

Individuals and small businesses are always welcome to tour the facility.

“A lot of people come in here and say that it’s a fantastic concept, and I wish I could take credit for it, but there are now 14,000 such co-working spaces in the world,” said Winkler. “The whole mentality is you do what you do, and we’ll provide everything else for you. You focus on your job, and we’ll provide your work environment.”

[uam_ad id=”71799″]