Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have changed where and how they work, seeking alternatives to traditional office environments.
Brighton couple Dan and Anna Oginski have opened two new coworking spaces in the city over the past few years. Each has its own ambiance and facilities to accommodate the changing employment landscape.
Their latest initiative is the All Heart Garage, a new $1.5 million “communal warehouse” and co-working space located on a previously vacant industrial lot at 1101 Rickett Street in the city.
Another of their recent projects was to restore the 1862 house into a coworking and event space called the Brighton Light House. With a modern twist on the retro feel of a mid-20th-century auto service station, Allheart Garage pays tribute to Dan Oginski’s late father, Bob.
“I love creating fun and special places,” said Dan Oginski. Livingston Daily A sneak peek at the All Heart Garage on Tuesday.
Related: Brighton Light House, offices and coworking spaces come to fruition in a historic home
According to Oginsky, the two Brighton businesses have a common goal and offer a diverse range of work and event spaces.
“I think we are part of the future of how people play, live and work. We are part of that shift.”
The couple will host a grand opening event on Thursday from 3:30pm to 8:00pm. The event will feature ribbon cutting, diner food, ice cream, oldies music and cars by the Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce at 4pm.
What is a “shared warehouse” space?
Like Brighton Light House, All Heart Garage can be classified as a coworking space. This is an office environment where multiple entrepreneurs and business people can sign up for memberships to use desks, office equipment and break room areas or reserved by groups. Meeting rooms and event hosting.
All Heart Garage has seven storage unit cages of approximately 350 square feet in a temperature-controlled warehouse that members who sign up for a “residency” can reserve to store their inventory, tools and other supplies.
According to Dan Oginsky, three of the seven storage units were reserved before the company began actively marketing the new business.
“Someone came in and said this was an elephant kennel,” he laughs, showing off the 12-foot-tall unit.
No elephants have moved in, but event planners, Christmas decoration designers, and home repair contractors have already signed contracts.
“We think of it as a garage for building your business,” Oginsky said. “People we expect need space and tools to help keep businesses on track.”
The rest of the building contains office spaces that include rows of semi-private cubicles with adjustable desks and filing cabinets for sitting or standing. The open-concept room also features a custom long wooden table and whiteboard for group work, a break room area with a turquoise kitchenette, and a vintage diner table with red vinyl diner chairs.
A meeting room is on one side and opens onto a patio overlooking a reserve pond that Mr and Mrs Oginski enlivened with wildflower plantings and other landscaping.
We also offer four soundproof booths with desks for private phone calls or Zoom calls. These can be reserved or made available to members working in the space.
Dan Oginsky said podcasters and anyone who needs to make clean audio recordings can benefit from access to rooms with soundproof drywall and wall panels. He said he routed the heating and cooling vents in a way that minimized noise.
Along part of the building’s façade, four large garage doors with windows open onto an undeveloped wetland on the edge of downtown Brighton. Oginsky initially envisioned his garage space as a vehicle storage space for himself and others, but now said the space would be a good event his space or “hangout” area. .
The building also houses a family of businesses owned by the Oginskis, including Main Street Gallery, Leland’s art gallery, Warm Heart Home, Leland’s real estate design firm, Leland’s Vacation Rentals, and Healing Arts. It also serves as the headquarters of Hartmonic Holdings. Business Heart Connected and All Heart Press, platforms for artists and creators.
leave a memory of one’s father
Allheart Garage was still in the planning stages when Dan’s father passed away. Oginsky uses part of the building as his own personal automobile workshop, complete with some tools and other equipment that belonged to his father.
“My brother and I are bringing all his stuff and recreating his workshop here,” says Dan Oginski. “This is a special place.”
The workshops are for personal use, but he said he is considering holding some community workshops to teach people about routine vehicle repair and maintenance.
“My father ran the shop from home and coached people. He taught them things and they taught him things.”
Those who want to use the space of All Heart Garage
All Heart Garage offers several options for residents and members, including access to Brighton Light House.
- Warehouse residency includes dedicated storage unit and coworking membership
- Work Bay Residency includes a dedicated semi-private work bay in a cubicle and a co-working membership
- Coworking membership includes access to office space, meeting rooms, work bays, collaboration tables, lounge areas and sound booths.
- Hourly rentals include the use of conference rooms and other spaces for meetings and events.
Please contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
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