In addition to a home office and coffee shops, Columbus entrepreneurs now have an option to work at
The Salt Mines.
That’s the name Andy Soell and his wife, January, gave their new entrepreneur work space in a Clintonville store front just north of OSU. The name comes from an old saying about Siberian prisoners hauling salt up from deep mines. The term “back to the salt mines” refers to getting back to work, he explains.
Providing entrepreneurs, telecommuters and freelancers a comfortable place in which to work is what The Salt Mines is all about, Soell says. “It’s for people who would traditionally work in their home office or a coffee shop, but who are looking for something a little more dedicated and professional. The work space is built for simplicity and affordability, where individuals or small teams of people can focus on getting things done. It fills that need and also provides a sense of community,” he notes.
The Salt Mines provides high-speed wireless Internet, electricity, desks, fresh coffee and a small kitchen, and can accommodate a dozen people.
There’s also a device lab. “We wanted to provide a centralized place where designers and developers can test out their web sites and mobile applications to make sure they look their best on as wide a range of Internet-connected devices as possible,” he explains. The lab currently has an array of Apple devices, several Android phones and an Amazon Kindle tablet.
“The simplest way to use The Salt Mines is with a daily visitor pass,” Soell states. “Floating week passes entitle people to five days, spread out over any time frame they wish. For those interested in a more permanent daily option, we have permanent desks available for a monthly fee.”
The Salt Mines is self-funded. There are no contracts involved, as the Soells say they want to make the space as simple as possible for entrepreneurs to try out without being locked into a long-term commitment.
Source: Andy Soell, The Salt Mines
Writer: Lynne Meyer