Co-working space available in Sisters

Canoe Club is a community-oriented co-working space for Sisters freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and businesses of all sizes. They offer a range of workspaces to suit most every need, including open-plan areas, dedicated desks, private offices, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, quiet zones for focused work, and communal spaces for relaxation and networking.

Co-working happens when people assemble in a neutral space to work independently on different projects, or in groups on the same projects. It's different than a typical office workspace because the people in a co-working environment generally aren't working for the same company.

Co-working spaces offer the same amenities you would find in a traditional office. A major point of difference is flexibility since you don't need a long-term lease in a co-working space.

Canoe Club is strategically located in the core of downtown Sisters at the intersection of East Main Avenue and North Fir Street. The space is in a fully renovated two-story structure with retail on the first floor and offices on the second.

Canoe Club is the inspiration of Drew Hood, the building's owner, and Abhi Chaudhuri, a 19-year veteran tech executive. Chaudhuri gave The Nugget a tour of the roomy, comfortable layout.

The day The Nugget visited, nine "members" were spread throughout the Club, some working alone, most in teams. The open space area can accommodate up to 40 easily. Another member was holding a meeting in one of the private meeting spaces.

Coffee is free and a selection of snacks and cold drinks are available for purchase. The hub seems to be the café-style kitchen and bar where work is mixed with collegiality. There's a full size fridge where members' food can be kept chilled, a microwave, and a supply of drinkware and dishware.

It's state-of-the-art from a tech standpoint - completely wireless - but has a warm, comfortable feel, with oversize upholstered seating, soft lighting, and a half dozen nooks that double as work space or meal gathering.

Chaudhuri described his own experience of working from home, remotely.

"It got lonely," he said. "I missed the connection with others like me. There are great coffee shops in town where workers like me could gather, but they could get noisy and of course they did not have conferencing or printers or dedicated charging stations. Sisters is full of remote workers, many young professionals, who do not have much choice in office space. It is either too large or too expensive."

Space often requires a long-term lease. Canoe Club members are month-to-month with no deposits or maintenance and utility fees.

Susan Bird, a Sisters real estate broker, finds the Canoe Club a good addition to her work environment.

"I learned about the Canoe Club through word of mouth and contacted Drew," Bird said. "He said it wasn't ready yet. When I told him I needed space now, he dropped what he was doing and took me on a tour. I was over-the-top impressed. He decided they could work around me.

"Abhi is on-site and takes care of whatever is needed. The Canoe Club has everything I need to run my business. The vibe is energizing and pleasantly comfortable. There is a great mix of people who come at different times. We are all respectful of privacy - and have some interesting and fun interactions. Now I have my office in Sisters, but spend most of my time at the Canoe Club. I love it."

There are drop-in passes ($15), punch cards ($10/day), and monthly memberships ($150).

The space is available for events subject to availability. To learn more or schedule a tour, call 415-373-6699.