Five co-working spaces in Toronto's east end
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Photo: East Room
Laptop warriors and digital nomads know the freelance dance all too well: Shuffling and schlepping from cafe to cafe picking up free Wi-Fi and a helluva caffeine buzz along the way.
If you're stuck without an office and kind of miss the awkward water-cooler chat, liberal coffee-making and clinical yet work-friendly decor, it's time to grab a go-to space where you can achieve creative focus or meet with clients.
For budding entrepreneurs and lone wolves seeking a place to work, meet kindred spirits and have access to swish amenities, take a look at five co-working spaces in Toronto's east end that offer not only a desk to work at but a community to plug into.
Photo: East Room
EAST ROOM
East Room is a sleek and stylish co-working club in Riverside, catering to forward-thinking freelancers, creative professionals and small businesses. Memberships range from $100/mo. for a mailing address and event invites to $3,200/mo. for premium service that includes space for a five-to-eight person team in a fully equipped enclosed office. East Room doubles as an event space, hosting Room Service, a bi-monthly opportunity for emerging talent to be exposed to a carefully curated list of record label executives, alongside friends and family. Previous performers include Jazz Cartier, Clairmont II and Prince Innocence.
50 Caroll St.
eastroom.ca
Photo: District 28
DISTRICT 28
Inside an 18000 sq-ft. abandoned factory turned multi-media facility, District 28 houses contemporary co-working and event spaces with high speed internet, free coffee, a bar bistro, studio spaces and private screening rooms. The co-working space offers four memberships that vary in price and level of access to amenities. A basic package runs $90/mo. for common area access, hot desks are $195/mo, dedicated desks at $300/mo., while private offices are $1,100/mo. Memberships include 24/7 access, parking and business mailing address. If you're unsure of which plan suits your needs, they offer a week trial for free to all prospective members.
28 Logan Ave.
district28.ca
Photo: The Vandenberg House
THE VANDENBERG HOUSE
Charming and eclectic, The Vandenberg House offers co-working and event space in the homey comforts of a more-than-century-old Queen East Victorian house with 12-foot ceilings and old, knotty pine floors. Geared towards entrepreneurs and artists, you can drop in for a single day if you're just looking for a convenient place to get some work done, sign-up for a dedicated desk at a monthly rate of $400 or co-work for $200. Shared amenities include wi-fi, printing, kitchen and meeting space. The Vandenberg House also hosts monthly networking nights with guest speakers and presentations on various business topics.
1400 Queen St. E
thevberghouse.ca
Photo: Riverdale Hub
RIVERDALE HUB
Riverdale Hub is an environmentally sustainable space that offers an affordable work environment to social enterprises, green initiatives and community-based projects. The space is an open-concept layout with meeting tables and lounge areas, plus two enclosed offices. Hot desks range from $80/mo. for 50 hours to $250/month for unlimited access. You can grab a designated desk for $5/hour while a full-time designated desk is $400/mo. Offices start at $1,100/mo. With their hub share membership, you get wi-fi, low-cost printing, reception and admin support, kitchen access and cafe and rooftop garden.
1326 Gerrard St. E
riverdalehub.ca
Photo: CSI
CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION — REGENT PARK
Modern and tastefully appointed, CSI Regent Park is home to a diverse cross-section of social mission organizations and individuals who come together to share ideas, resources, advice and inspiration. The co-working area has 10,000 square feet of space within the LEED Silver-certified Daniels Spectrum, a 60,000 square-foot community cultural hub. The building is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations, and includes event, performance and exhibition spaces. Rates run the gamut, depending on your needs, starting at $30 for access to the community, up to $880/mo. for a private office. There are plenty of options in between, and all members are entitled to 24/7 access to the buildings' facilities. Book a tour or try a free introductory day to see if it works for you.
585 Dundas St. E
socialinnovation.org
