Freelancers have a perpetual love-hate relationship with coffee shops. Although they do provide a pseudo office space for telecommuters, they are usually noisy or overcrowded, and WiFi isn’t always reliable.
That’s why Preston Pesek and Chris Smothers joined forces to create Spacious, a new startup that is turning NYC’s restaurants into shared workspaces.
According to Pesek, more than 2,000 restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn are closed before 6 p.m. Thanks to Spacious, establishments will now be opening their doors to freelancers, providing a unique space for people to conduct business meetings or do work.
The startup charges $95 per month for unlimited access to all partnering locations and $29 for a day pass. With the service, members will have access to business class WiFi and unlimited coffee. Part-time hosts will also be present to assure the best customer experience possible.
Aside from member benefits, Pesek and Smothers believe that partnering restaurants could also gain a lot from signing up with Spacious. Freelancers, for instance, may stay to buy food after a busy work day. The culinary scene is also expected to improve under the app’s profit sharing model, which could potentially cut real estate costs in half for the restaurant owner.
The less time spent worrying about finances equates to more time spent on doing what chefs and restauranteurs do best.
So far Spacious has successfully paired with DBGB Kitchen and Bar and will add L’Apicio, its second location, by the end of June. It will also add other establishments throughout the summer.
Until then, here’s everything you need to know about the partnering restaurants:
DBGB Kitchen and Bar
Address: 299 Bowery, New York, NY, 10003
Hours: Monday - Thursday; 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. (walk-ins welcome)
Amenities: High speed internet, coffee & tea, outlets for everyone, concierge, guest reception, private room (upon request; seats 18 people - reserved by the hour at [email protected])
Seating: Tables, cocktail bar, plush booths, seasonal sidewalk café
L’Apicio
Address: 13 East 1st St., New York, NY, 10003
Hours: Friday; 9 am - 4:30 p.m. (walk-ins welcome)
Amenities: High speed internet, coffee & tea, outlets for everyone, concierge, guest reception, private room (upon request)
Public
Address: 210 Elizabeth St., New York, NY 10012
* COMING SOON *
