When I came back to Washington to settle semi-permanently after 5 years of nomadic living, I didn’t expect to find much in the way of coworking. I just assumed the whole location independent lifestyle thing hadn’t really made its way to my rural part of the state.
So, imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a community workspace in Leavenworth (just miles from where I’m living) while researching coworking in Washington! I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes.
Leavenworth Community Workspace is one of the only coworking spaces in this part of Central Washington as far as I can tell–the next closest one I could locate is called Catalyst Coworking in Ellensburg.
Naturally, I had to see it for myself.
Having just moved into an apartment in neighboring Wenatchee, I wasn’t really in need of a coworking space myself, but I wanted to see if it might be suitable for other digital nomads who happen to be passing through the region.
Leavenworth has plenty of cafes, but being the small town that it is, most places have a pretty early closing time (think 4 or 5 pm). This gives a coworking space an easy advantage if it can offer even slightly more flexible hours, and this shared office space does.
Anywho, I motored up to Leavenworth one day to check out the Leavenworth Community Workspace, and here’s what I found.
Leavenworth Community Workspace, Leavenworth, Washington
First of all, the entrance to this community workspace is not well marked. And by that I mean it’s not marked at all.
I wandered to a few different doors and asked in at least one shop (and despite being directly below it, they’d never even heard of the workspace) before finally discovering the staircase that led me to the second-floor office space I sought (if you’re going there yourself, you’ll find it sandwiched between WineGirl Wines and the Renaissance Cafe).
What I didn’t know is that no one would be at the desk to greet me and you need an access code to get in. Luckily a girl working inside took pity on me and opened the door, explaining that the owner, Matt, was often not around, but he was easy to reach by telephone.
Silly me, I thought I could just waltz in and speak to someone, but apparently, this is not the case.
After a quick chat on the phone with Matt (lovely guy, by the way) he’d explained that everyone gets one free visit to see if they like the place, but otherwise, you need to purchase a membership plan to access the space. You can book a visit or buy a membership plan online via the Leavenworth Community Workspace website.
I thanked him kindly for the info, he gave me a door code to use for the day, and I settled into a seat by the window, facing the charming streets of Leavenworth.
There were a handful of people in the main working area that day, and one girl making use of the more private (and more expensive) offices toward the back of the building (there are just a few of these desks available for full-time members).
A few things I liked about Leavenworth Community Workspace right off the bat:
- Lots of natural light
- Plenty of power outlets
- Comfortable desks and chairs
- Couches and other seating options
- Free coffee and tea
- A kitchen equipped with fridge & microwave
- Offers 24/7 access
In addition, there’s a space that can be used for meetings and events, and larger tables where teams can sit together and work collaboratively if need be.
You can find a list of upcoming events being held at the Leavenworth Community Workspace here (access to special events is free to all members).
Leavenworth Community Workspace Memberships
Unlike many coworking spaces, this space offers some part-time membership options in addition to their full-time memberships, which is handy for people who may only be in town for a week or two.
There are three part-time options: 5 visits per month ($50), 10 visits per month ($90) or 15 visits per month ($120). As to be expected, you pay less per visit the more often you use the space.
The next two options are for full-time use. The first is $155 per month, and the final membership is for those requiring a private desk/office space for $250 per month.
Final Thoughts
Leavenworth Community Workspace offers an excellent alternative to working in a Leavenworth cafe. The round-the-clock access is a huge selling point, as is the fact that you won’t have to beg someone to watch your stuff every time you get up to use the bathroom.
Not only that, but you’ll probably spend $10 just to sit and use a cafe’s WiFi anyway, so you might as well pay $10 per visit and help yourself to the unlimited coffee and tea bar at this shared office space.
It’s not a perfect solution for digital nomads just passing through town for a few days since you can’t purchase single day passes, but perhaps as remote work and the location independent lifestyle continues to grow in the Pacific Northwest, they’ll expand their offerings.
After all, with the abundance of wineries, breweries, and outdoor adventure activities like hiking and river rafting, Leavenworth is a pretty great place to go for a Washington workation.
Contact Info
Address: 217 8th St #200, Leavenworth, WA 98826
Email: matt@rootstonecreative.com
Read More on Leavenworth:
- How to Spend a Day in Leavenworth, Washington
- A Central Washington Winery Tour with Blue Sky Outfitters
- A Leavenworth Staycation at Run of the River Inn & Refuge
- Taste Leavenworth: A Culinary Crawl Through Washington’s Bavarian Village
Do you use coworking spaces in your hometown or do you prefer to work from home?
