Anchorspace Potsdam recently relocated and expanded its co-working space inside Market Square Mall in downtown Potsdam and will celebrate with an open house and ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 4-7 p.m.

“We found ourselves in a bit of a holding pattern the last couple years,” says Nicole Ouellette, the owner of Anchorspace Potsdam.

“Our co-working space had seven desks and six members, so we couldn’t really expand. Due to this, we stopped actively marketing. About a year ago, when our landlord informed us that the lease at our Market Street space wouldn’t be renewed, we had to decide whether to stay stagnant or go all in.”

Ouellette emailed Brooks Washburn, who had purchased Market Square Mall.

“I heard he was making some great renovations over there and building a business community. When I mentioned we would love to be a part of it, he said we would be a welcome addition. So we started working towards making it happen.”

A grant from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), administered by the Village of Potsdam, enabled Anchorspace Potsdam to take a risk and move to a larger location.

During the renovation, private offices and a larger conference room were added.

“We have received requests in the past for private offices and slightly larger conference room, so we incorporated those changes into the renovation.” says Ouellette.

Washburn’s firm planned the space, but delays in funding and construction forced Anchorspace Potsdam to move out of their old location before the new one was ready.

Over the last five months, the space underwent a transformation and now functions as a spacious co-working space. It is equipped with an eleven desk main co-working room, three small private offices, a phone booth designed for private calls and meetings, a fully-furnished conference room, a kitchenette, and a full bathroom.

“Co-working spaces are often considered a ‘third place’ for many individuals. We added a full bathroom so if a member wants to bike or go to the gym next door on their lunch break, they can take a shower to freshen up after. Similarly, if they have any dietary restrictions, they can cook their own lunch in our kitchen. Some members have their favorite coffee mug in the cupboard and slippers by their desk. Our aim is to create an environment where people can feel comfortable and productive.” says Ouellette.

“I love having 24/7 access to Anchorspace because I tend to be an early riser. I can come in at whatever time I want to start work and get some coffee going,“ says Jessica Heck, part of the team who runs Anchorspace Potsdam and Anchorspace member since 2021. “We have a great community of people here that I look forward to seeing and the new space is really nice.”

The public is invited to take a tour of the space and celebrate with Anchorspace Potsdam’s members and friends at the Feb. 6 open house.

Find more information about this event and other upcoming events at https://www.anchorspacepotsdam.com.

Anchorspace Potsdam now features a larger capacity and more flexibility to what people can use the space for. So far they’ve hosted meetings, live streams, photo shoots, and reiki sessions in their new location.

They also have monthly classes on special topics like winter hiking, 3D printing, and social media video creation starting in February. If you have a class you have wanted to teach or a topic you want to learn, reach out and let them know.

“I can’t wait to see how the community will use our space and how we can support them doing so.”

To learn more about Anchorspace email info@anchorspace.com, or call 207-613-5344.