Enclave in downtown Naperville melds co-working space with social club so members can network, make friends
A new co-working space that doubles as a social club will join the growing trend of remote working locations in downtown Naperville.
Enclave plans to open in mid-May in the upper floors of 218 S. Main St., offering a variety of workspace options, including private offices and shared spaces, and rooms to reserve for meetings, said Ariana Serna, head of sales and marketing for Enclave.
The number of home-based workers more than tripled from 2019 to 2021, according to an American Community Survey released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. The percentage rose from 5.7% of total workers in 2019 (roughly 9 million workers) to 17.9% in 2021 (about 27.6 million workers), numbers show.
That shift is being reflected in increased availability of shared spaces downtown that give people a place to work or meet with co-workers and clients outside a home without the hassle and/or high expense of leasing an office or the noise of a coffeehouse.
Other downtown co-working spaces include NaperLaunch at the Nichols Public Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave.; Workvana at Tapville Social, 216 S. Washington St.; and Regus at Main Street Promenade, 50 S. Main St.
Serna said its lack of a corporate feel is what differentiates Enclave from its competitors.
“We still really focus on that lounge aspect. We want people to feel really comfortable. We don’t want it to feel stuffy,” she said.
Besides private offices on the second floor, members can set up on the couches, arm chairs or at the bar in the lounge on the third floor on those days they need a break away from distractions working from home.
“We aim to have no more than 10 to 12 people working from the space at a time so you’re always comfortable. You’re never fighting for those amenities,” Serna said.
On the social side, Enclave members can toast the end of a long workday, catch up with friends or participate in planned activities, such as yoga during the lunch hour and this summer’s poker instruction night for women.
“I know there’s a huge tech community in Naperville. We want to invite founders and entrepreneurs into our space to talk about and share their experiences with their community,” Serna said.
Enclave was founded by Robert Kellman after he and his wife moved from Chicago to LaGrange with their two young girls.
Missing the community and connection they felt in the city, Serna said they opened a social club in downtown Glen Ellyn in January 2020.
The pandemic forced Kellman to pivot, and Serna said Enclave temporarily became less about socializing and more about everyone working remotely rather than isolating home alone.
“What we’re realizing is that co-working spaces are really perfect for people because you get to leave your house but it’s a five-minute commute. You’re not going all the way downtown and fighting the traffic,” she said.
With restrictions lifted, Enclave has become more of a balance of the work and social aspects, she said.
During the day, Enclave provides a place where people can work, make connections and get to know the people around them.
On nights and weekends, she said, members can share a glass of their favorite alcoholic beverage that they bring with them to the bar or lounge, entertain friends or partners, or host happy hours for colleagues.
“We want people to feel like it’s an extension of your home, and so you can really use it in the way that best serves your needs,” Serna said.
Membership prices start at $100 a month.
She said the coworking membership provides access to the conference room, phone rooms, the main area, coffee, tea and high-speed internet and offers a chance to join social events at all locations.
A premium flex model gives clients unlimited access to the private office space.
“It’s much more cost effective, and the only difference being you can’t bring your things in to the space and leave them in your office overnight, the way you would have private office,” Serna said.
Another perk is that all of the offices in Naperville have windows, she said.
Naperville will become the seventh location for Enclave, which started in Glen Ellyn and expanded into Downers Grove, Oak Park, Arlington Heights, Highland Park and Wilmette.
“We’re really excited for it to open. The community in Naperville so far has been very warm and welcoming,” she said.
