E-Mail Express

Name:

Company:

E-mail:

Phone:

SoCo Depot is region’s first co-working group

PENNGROVE WAREHOUSE CO-OP PROVIDES ALTERNATIVE TO HOME OFFICE

PENNGROVE – It’s a high-tech concept in a low-tech locale: co-working, the hottest new geek trend in San Francisco, has popped up in Penngrove.

SoCo is the region’s first shared office venue for tech workers. After a shaky first four months, all systems are go, according to founder Anthony Tusler. He’s one of a not-so-rare breed of self-employed workers who crave interaction with a group.

“Home offices are not for everyone. I take pride in my self-sufficiency and would never admit I was lonely working at home, but I was,” said Mr. Tusler.

Hearing about the Grotto, a writer’s co-working group in San Francisco, he finally saw a viable alternative. But it took several years to gather a core group of like-minded people in the Petaluma area, and then more time to find a suitable space.

Now the group is leasing a space in an 8,800-square-foot, hundred-year-old warehouse in Penngrove. Office furniture and computer equipment is BYO; the communications services are cable WiFi and Skype; and there’s no reception desk.

“But we have a lunchroom and a bathroom and a conference room. We’ve got wraparound porches, wheelchair access, and there are at least five great places to eat within walking distance,” said Mr. Tusler.

There’s even a post office across the street, probably about as useful to this group as the railroad spur that runs past the door.

Currently ensconced at SoCo Depot are a photographer, a freelance journalist, an online ad copy writer, a Web-based graphic designer, a novelist, a story consultant and Mr. Tusler, who writes disability training curriculum for tech companies and nonprofits. All live within 15 minutes of the co-op, and all have home offices.

The group is governed by a four-member steering committee, which interfaces with the landlord and reviews applicants.

“We turned down a ceramicist. And a lady drummer. But if you do your work on a computer, we’ve got a great place for you,” he said.

Rent comes to $230 to $290 a month, and tenants are welcome to sublet their workstations. SoCo’s current space can accommodate about 10 work stations, but there’s plenty of room to expand if the idea takes off.

“The best thing about it is that we encourage each other,” said Mr. Tusler. “Sometimes you just really want the input of a disinterested person on something you’ve written.” For people wanting to start a co-worker group in their own towns, he recommends using local, informal networks.

“Aquas Cafe in Petaluma was where we got started. The owner John Crowley came from Ireland, and he was appalled at the lack of social networks here. He publishes a newsletter that got the word out about SoCo.” In Penngrove, Paprara’s Pizza was persuaded to tape a postcard advertising SoCo Depot to each box it delivers. “Delivered pizza is the mainstay of the home office worker, so that’s a great way to inform the right demographic,” he said.

For more information, e-mail info@socodepot.com, call 707-795-0515 or visit www.socodepot.com.