Hauppauge: space for solitary 'co-working'

It's a growing trend in the business world, it's being done in Canada, Japan and even in parts of Manhattan, and it's coming to Long Island, at least if a father-and-son team from Hauppauge has its way.

It is "co-working," a kind of daylong networking that includes common work spaces, lectures, advice from experts and, perhaps most of all, a chance for togetherness for those who otherwise work independently.

Ed Scheine, a Hauppauge attorney, and his son, Jonathan Scheine, a recent Hofstra Law School graduate, are putting together such a center, to be called The Business Corners, in 4,500 square feet of space in a former law office at 200 Motor Pkwy. in Hauppauge. Some of the space is already rented out to a networking organization, Ed Scheine said. But a grand opening is scheduled for June. The facility would be the first of its kind on Long Island, Ed Scheine said.

"Co-working is an international trend," Scheine said. "People are working at Starbucks, at home" and in their cars, he said. "That isolation inhibits creativity. If you can come to a place where there are like-minded individuals, it makes for more creativity."

One of the best-known such facilities opened in Toronto in 2003, called the Centre for Social Innovation. It offers private offices, permanent desks, professional support services, business lectures and yoga classes.

That's the model the Scheines want to offer to Long Island. Ed Schein said co-working is more advanced than the concept of a Jelly, one of which opened on the Island last year in Woodbury. A Jelly is a business networking space that is open all day. Co-working spaces offer more services, he said.

It will all be for a fee -- $25 a day for a work space, more for private offices. "This is going to be for serious-minded people," Scheine said.