Before Ken and I opened Willoughby Workspaces May 26, 2022, I owned two personal training studios in Mayfield and Lakewood. I had 24 fitness instructors and 4 personal trainers that were part of my fitness family. I had trained and taught classes all over Cleveland and I had made a name for myself and so it helped when I opened the studios, I had already had a following. The team I put together shared the same beliefs in health & fitness (which was important to me), as I and together we were able to build our "tribe" of members who also shared the same feelings we did about fitness, that we built a community that was more like a family and not just members.
Photos taken from Achieve Fitness Studios in Mayfield and Lakewood.
But when COVID hit, everything changed. My studios took a hit, and by August 2020, I made the tough decision to close both locations. I pivoted to online training, and I’m still coaching clients virtually today. I really miss my fitness family. We do get together a few times throughout the year.
During this time, Ken, who travels extensively for work, shared his experiences in coworking spaces across the country. His enthusiasm sparked a conversation about bringing a similar concept to Lake County. I was ready for a new adventure and excited to embrace the world of coworking, so we decided to dive in together!
Ken expressed to me he did not want to look for retail space or warehouse space. He wanted something in the suburbs and warmer and cozier vibe. Driving on Euclid Ave one Sunday afternoon we found this Victorian home for sale, fell in love, purchased it October 2020 and here we are to present day.
Left picture shows before we started renovations. Right picture of what house looks like today.
We both envisioned creating a vibrant community in our coworking space, much like the one I fostered in my studios. Our goal was to bring together individuals from diverse businesses, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and relaxed—a place to network, forge connections, and collaborate.
I won’t sugarcoat it: the beginning was challenging. We discovered that many people in Lake County were unfamiliar with the concept of coworking, which has gained more traction in areas like Ohio City and Tremont. But we were determined to change that!
Many of the events held at The Charlton Abbott: Fitness, Pop-up Markets, Art Night, Fundraisers, baby/bridal showers.
To invite people into our coworking space, we dove headfirst into the community by joining both the Willoughby Western Lake County and Mentor Chambers. We organized a variety of networking events for local businesses, but I wanted to think outside the box. That’s when we kicked off unique community events like Art Night, where we showcased local artists and gave them a platform to sell their incredible work and donated proceeds of ticket sales to the Fine Arts Association. Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity hosted a fantastic wine fundraiser, blending community spirit with a great cause. We celebrated Ohio Department of Health's Women & Children (WIC) program turning "50" years old on our patio.
As a fitness enthusiast, I organized numerous health and wellness workshops, promoting a holistic approach to well-being. And let’s not forget our beloved pop-up shops! We love collaborating with local vendors for a day of shopping, because who doesn’t enjoy discovering unique finds? It’s all about bringing people together and celebrating what our community has to offer!
We love collaborating with local vendors for our pop-up markets throughout the year.
I absolutely love what Ken, and I accomplished in our beautiful historic Victorian building over the past two years. It’s been a joy to welcome people into our coworking space each day, inviting them to become part of our coworking family. We take pride in sharing our space with the community, providing a hub for local businesses to host their events and fostering connections that truly enrich our environment.
If you haven't visited our coworking space and are curious, get a Day Pass $25 and check us out. Stop by for one of our fabulous events coming up!
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