People working on their laptops at the cafes with several papers on the table, is quite a common sight. In fact, working out of a cafe or a restaurant is not new in Nagpur but co-working certainly is. More and more professionals from varied fields are turning to the coffee shops and swanky restaurants to build their makeshift work spaces. In fact, looking at this booming co-working trend, some of the city restaurant owners have designed monthly packages and provide special offers in the food menu. One of the cafes at Gokulpeth has even a separate section for co-working. Owner Ayush Jaiswal says,“We have provided a projector to our patrons who hold meetings and presentations, and of course, Wi-Fi facility. We are charging only for the food and not a penny extra for the space. However, looking at the soaring popularity, we may introduce monthly packages soon.”
Saket Chourasia opened his new restaurant at Hingna- MIDC road, with the idea of making it feasible for co-working as well. “Our monthly package to book the space is for `3999 but we are giving redeemable food vouchers of the equal amount. That makes the place free. Not only this, but we also invite seasoned entrepreneurs and other professional from our side to interact with our members.”
Along with cool ambience and affordable menu, flexible booking hours and informal atmosphere are the important factors that have attracted people to work out of these restaurants-cum-co-working spaces. “The environment should be conducive for creative work; we don’t need a traditional office setting,” says Devangi Bansole, who is into event management, adding, “It was not easy to find a place that is comfortable as well as affordable. The typical co-working spaces too are not really economical.” She goes on to add, “Initially, it was also hard to convince my parents because I was going to a cafe for work and not to a typical workplace, but later they were okay. There are many freelance photographers, artists who are co-working with me and I’m enjoying a fun yet productive environment at work.”
Another young professional Ravit Bhambhani shares, “My primary reason for coming to a café for work is to meet creative people from diverse fields. While I have already built a good rapport with people who are co-working with me, I interact and exchange ideas with even those who just head here to chill and chat for a while.”
Kaivalya Kulkarni, director of a breakfast joint at Hingna road is also all set to introduce a co-working facility. He informs, “At co-working spaces though we meet different people, going and sitting at a same place every day can be monotonous. And we want people to enjoy at work. So, they’ll be free to sit anywhere in the restaurant and work.”
