In a quaint ranch-style home in a picturesque area of South Austin, travelers will find The Hive, the city's first co-working space with supervised child care.

Owner Shelly Weiser said the business has seen a manageable amount of customers since it opened Oct. 23, allowing her time to perfect daily operations.

"It's been a good slow trickle which is perfect, for the beginning anyway," she said. "We have been able to figure little kinks out we wouldn't have been able to foresee before."

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CHILD SUPERVISION


Customers entering through the front door will find a spacious area with table and bar seating, as well as a couch and some lounge chairs. To the left, a separate room houses the child supervision area, where children have access to various books, toys and a fenced outdoor play area. Weiser said she has instituted a 1-to-10 adult-to-child ratio and a maximum of 20 children allowed in supervised child care at a time.

Upon check-in, both the child and parent are given wristbands with a matching number. The child's wristband will also include the parent's cell phone number in case the child needs a diaper change or to use the restroom.

Child supervision costs $10 per hour, but discounted rates are available for parents who buy in bulk. Each parent is allotted up to 4 hours per day or 12-and-a-half hours per week, Weiser said.

A one-way mirror allows parents to check in on their children without being seen. Cameras may also be implemented to live stream to screens in the work areas, Weiser said

CO-WORKING


To the right of the front door are two enclosed rooms available for rent. A conference room equipped with a large meeting table can be reserved for $25 per hour, while the second room is equipped with four desks that can be rented on a monthly basis.

For $550 per month, each desk reservation will include 10 hours a month of child care, four hours per month of conference room access, 24/7 access to the building, unlimited internet, discounted coffee and a bottle of wine on Fridays, Weiser said.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE


Originally intended for the front lawn, Weiser said she instead parked The Hive's food trailer in the backyard after noticing guests gathering there during a fundraiser event.

"I realized this is where it's relaxing and picturesque," she said. "There is more parking and space back here."

The food trailer's menu includes sandwiches, soups and coffee drinks. Weiser is in the process of securing her Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license, which will enable The Hive to sell beer and wine. She said she is about two weeks into the 36-day approval process.

EVENTS


The Hive will also host events on a weekly and monthly basis, Weiser said. Adamo Nail Bar, a traveling airstream boutique benefiting victims of sex trafficking, will take appointments every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We have a full acre that’s close to town but is also in the country, so it just lends itself to events," Weiser said. "The inside turned out so beautifully we can do events in here as well."

Other events and pop-ups, such as birthday and holiday parties, date nights, live music performances, yoga classes, massage sessions and more will also be offered, Weiser said.

The Hive

10415 Manchaca Road, Austin

 (512) 431-0969

www.hiveaustin.com

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sun.