Goodbye Home Hardware, hello entrepreneurs. Boone Dog Office Spaces, a new business on the iconic Grimsby downtown strip, is opening in place of the shuttered hardware store.
The new co-working office spaces business is designed to be an affordable work hub for local entrepreneurs, consultants, artists, and non-profits. It fills the vacant building which used to be a Home Hardware store, located on Grimsby’s downtown strip on Main Street.
Boone Dog is the brainchild of Kevin Luttjehuizen, owner of Harmony Jewellers Ltd., the business located next door. Luttjehuizen’s jewelry business also has a second location in Dunnville, in Wainfleet. He also operates a third jewelry business in Burlington.
Luttjehuizen was born in Grimsby and grew up in Beamsville. “He wanted to reinvest into the downtown to help bring more people to the area,” said Danielle Parkes, Office Manager at Boone Dog Office Spaces.
Renovations at the co-working facility are currently underway for Phase 1, which will offer ten rentable private offices.
Parkes said members will enjoy both a quiet, peaceful, work environment, but at a place where they also have the opportunity to foster connections with other local busienss people.
“We are doing a full renovation on the second level to make sure the offices are private and have sound barriers. Members will also have access to a kitchenette and boardroom so anyone who wants to step out of their office and feel like they are in a community we’ll get this experience,” said Parkes.
Private office spaces are currently available for rent for a monthly fee of $625. Rent includes 24-hour access to a private, bright, lockable office with an ergonomic chair, filing cabinet, and wastebasket. Members also get free tea, coffee, and cold refreshments, cleaning services, and unlimited black and white printing and high-speed Internet access.
Future plans for dedicated desk space rentals – sometimes referred to as hot desks – may follow in Phase 2 of development.
“Due to COVID-19 we are not introducing dedicated desk spaces right now. The plan is to see how the winter goes. The best way we can bring everyone into a safe environment is by starting with the private offices. However, we do want to do the desks in the future,” Parkes told Niagara Info.
If the dedicated desk spaces component of the business does go forward, Parkes, says the rental fee will be $275 per month.
Boone Dog Office Spaces’ mission is to create a coworking space that will be a positive environment and that helps locals grow their businesses and build rewarding, reciprocal relationships.
The coworking space is set to open by October 1, 2020. Rental applications are currently being accepted for the Fall.
For more information visit the Boone Dog Office Spaces website.