Last month I took advantage of Cowork Buffalo‘s May Free Fridays to dip my toe back into the co-working waters. It’s been a while since the fall of 2011 when I was a co-working rat at Buffalo’s pioneer co-working space, the Main-Washington Exchange (MWX). Yet I’ve never forgotten the unique buzz of productivity and community that existed, Camelot-like, in that spot for a moment that I remember as happily shining as it was sadly brief.
MWX was always a hub of activity. Many members of the startup crowd, including Kevin Purdy and Dan Magnuszewski, were regulars there. In the evening there were often seminars on topics such as media relations and angel investing. Co-founder (with Mark Kirsch) Mark Schroeder (no, not the Comptroller) had all kinds of contacts in the creative community, and often brought people by to meet me, from which I got several good story ideas and leads. The views of downtown from the back “balcony” were also amazing.
Among my most memorable MWX moments was when the space served as a satellite location for the first TEDxBuffalo. I helped live-tweet the event.
Mark & Mark were also the dynamic duo behind a larger effort, in partnership with creative-friendly developer Roger Trettel, to transform the 500 Block into a creative incubator. MWX was the central, signature project of that effort. After Kirsch’s sudden death, Schroeder kept the dream alive – for a time.
But as all good things must come to an end, so did MWX. Although it didn’t survive its inaugural year, this dream of Mark & Mark did indeed incubate some important ideas and catalyze some important relationships that have proven to have staying power, a fitting tribute to their vision and energy.
Most prominent among the Main-Washington Exchange “diaspora” is Cowork Buffalo.
Looking for a suitable replacement for MWX, veterans Kevin Purdy, Dan Magnuszewski, and others formed Cowork Buffalo, initially located above SPoT on Delaware. I visited their open house, but the space just wasn’t the same; it didn’t have the same vibe. It was a great effort, but in comparison to MWX it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. Apparently they felt the same, because before long they shuffled off to their current location in the Theater District. I missed their early open houses there, but when I heard they were offering Free Fridays in the month of May, I decided I would not only visit, but test drive the space for myself.
So I made my way to the Pierce Building on Main Street. When I arrived I was greeted by Michael Macaluso. He hadn’t been part of the MWX crowd, but has heard a lot of the stories. He gave me the nickel (city?) tour, and showed me some of the workstations they had available. I’m happy to report that I immediately felt right at home, just as I had at MWX. The space itself is even reminiscent of MWX: linear, exposed-brick walls, functional, and comfortable. One huge step up is the coffee, which I found outstanding. A certain person of interest there obsessively experiments with equipment, technique, and blend, I was told.
While Cowork Buffalo, at least on Friday afternoons, doesn’t have Main-Washington Exchange’s constant buzz of activity, it has the advantage of also not being as chaotic. It’s a place for getting serious work done, while still being in a friendly, supportive, laid-back atmosphere. There are three phone booths which I’m told are simultaneously in use perhaps once a month. There are stand-up work stations for those who want. There are plenty of outlets and enough intertubes on tap for plenty of bandwidth. Also, comfortable chairs. (Did I mention comfortable?) Bikes are also welcome (see lead image).
There is space for small-group meetings, which primarily happen in the evenings. At lunch time, all the offerings of the Theater District, including Expo, are nearby. Michael Macaluso told me their timing was excellent, as when they first moved there the street seemed dead, but that quickly changed and now there is a large amount of foot traffic and street activity visible outside the windows. Working late on two Fridays, I was impressed by how much foot traffic was in the district. Contrary to the old saw about shooting off a canon on Main Street after 6PM and not hitting anything, foot traffic actually picked up after business hours. As at MWX, the sound of MetroRail trains rolling by punctuates the day.
If you’ve been thinking about dipping your toe into the co-working waters, do check out Cowork Buffalo. The water is fine. And the coffee is even better.
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