Even if you're not checking into a room or racking up a tab at the bar, you won't encounter any judgy looks for charging your laptop and answering emails from the Hoxton's beautifully appointed lobby. The London-based hotel group has long encouraged visitors to make themselves at home in its public-facing spaces. Today, the Hoxton makes its freelancer-friendly policy a bit more official with the opening of Working From_Fulton Market, a full-service coworking space situated on the hotel's third and fourth floors.
The 23,000-square-foot shared workspace includes handsome common spaces accented with midcentury modern furniture, dozens of private offices, a library curated by Chicago nonprofit Open Books, a shower-equipped bathroom, two terraces, private phone booths and a kitchen stocked with snacks. Working From_ is also home to a small café from Boka Restaurant Group (the same folks behind the hotel's other food and beverage concepts, Cabra, Cira and Lazy Bird). Dubbed the 3rd Floor Canteen + Bar, the eatery offers quick breakfast goodies (think overnight oats and fruit cups), salads, sandwiches, snacks and pastries—with prices ranging from $3 to $14. A curated wine and beer list round out the offerings.
Like its parent company, Working From_ already has a lineup of thoughtful programming in store for members, including a live taping of Chicago-based podcast Office Hours with Ernest Wilkins and a panel on women in beer with October magazine. Opening week events, which run from November 11 to 15, are free and open to the public (plus, you can scope out the digs while you're there).
The shared workspace offers six membership levels, starting with a noncommittal $30 day pass. The Side Hustle package costs $75 per month and grants access after 5:30pm on weekdays and all weekend. For $200 a month, members can spring for the Desk Hop, affording them access to the workspace's communal areas, which are ample. A permanent desk will set you back $500 per month, while a private studio starts at $700 per desk. Private offices can accommodate teams of six to 36.
Like most of Chicago's private clubs, the Hoxton's coworking space comes with its perks. Members get discounted hotel rates, 10 percent off at the hotel's restaurants and bars and something called Duvet Days, which allows daytime use of select Hoxton hotel rooms to "those who just need to work from bed." (Who doesn't?) Take a look around Chicago's newest coworking space below.
