This fall Southwest Austin will become home to the city's first co-working space that also offers child care.
Shelly Weiser, owner of the Hive, will open the co-working and child care business this fall.[/caption]
Shelly Weiser, owner of The Hive, said she was inspired to open the business after attempting to work from home as a freelance graphic designer while simultaneously supervising two toddlers.
"If I had a project or a last-minute website catastrophe, there was nowhere to go," she said.
After months of searching for the right location, Weiser said she almost abandoned the project when in December 2016, her Realtor took her on a tour of a ranch-style home built in the 1960s at 10415 Old Manchaca Road near Moontower Saloon.
"I walked through the door and knew this was it," she said.
Co-working
Originally composed of three bedrooms, Weiser plans to remodel the interior of the 2,063-square-foot home to include a large open space consisting of lounge areas and a seated section as well as a separate room with desk carrels. Groups will have the option to rent the room by the hour for conference calls or meetings.
"We will have the feel and ability to create a sort of 'hive,' a community where we all work together, for the worker bees, the business bees, and the lazy bees," she said.
Depending on funding, Weiser also plans to eventually build a large screened-in porch to accommodate more seating.
Child care
Weiser with her husband Brent and children Annie and Owen.[/caption]
Child care will be housed in the 400-square-foot garage, which Weiser said will be renovated to include commercial carpet, air conditioning and safety outlets. Employees in the child care center will be CPR-certified and given a background check; however, they will not be permitted to change diapers or accompany a child to the restroom. A paging system for parents is also in the works, Weiser said.
A one-way mirror will serve as the shared wall between the child care center and the main area of The Hive so parents can check on their children during their stay, Weiser said. Wi-Fi cameras will also be used to broadcast to monitors in the main lounge.
Although prices have not been confirmed yet, Weiser estimates child care will cost $9 an hour; however, discounted monthly fees and sibling deals will be offered.
Coffee
Weiser recently purchased a food trailer for the property's front yard where she said she plans to offer coffee, tea and heavy snacks. She is also in the process of applying for a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license to serve local beer and wine. If she is successful, Weiser said parents whose children are in child care will be limited to two drink tickets.
Classes ranging from art to cooking to yoga will also eventually be offered at The Hive, Weiser said. She said by doing so she hopes to support working parents in the area who own small businesses.
"I want to support parents who do this for a living," she said.
Shelly Weiser, owner of the Hive, will open the co-working and child care business this fall.[/caption]
Shelly Weiser, owner of The Hive, said she was inspired to open the business after attempting to work from home as a freelance graphic designer while simultaneously supervising two toddlers.
"If I had a project or a last-minute website catastrophe, there was nowhere to go," she said.
After months of searching for the right location, Weiser said she almost abandoned the project when in December 2016, her Realtor took her on a tour of a ranch-style home built in the 1960s at 10415 Old Manchaca Road near Moontower Saloon.
"I walked through the door and knew this was it," she said.
Weiser with her husband Brent and children Annie and Owen.[/caption]
Child care will be housed in the 400-square-foot garage, which Weiser said will be renovated to include commercial carpet, air conditioning and safety outlets. Employees in the child care center will be CPR-certified and given a background check; however, they will not be permitted to change diapers or accompany a child to the restroom. A paging system for parents is also in the works, Weiser said.
A one-way mirror will serve as the shared wall between the child care center and the main area of The Hive so parents can check on their children during their stay, Weiser said. Wi-Fi cameras will also be used to broadcast to monitors in the main lounge.
Although prices have not been confirmed yet, Weiser estimates child care will cost $9 an hour; however, discounted monthly fees and sibling deals will be offered.
