I’ll be the first to admit that when I heard Max & Erma’s was being replaced by a co-working space, I was skeptical.
But that’s because I didn’t understand that Kollektiv was going to be so much more than just another co-working joint. It’s unique and interesting and exciting, and quite frankly, it looks like an amazing place to set up shop.
Located at 739 S. 3rd St, the building was built in 1889 and originally served as a saloon & grocery store, with apartments on the second floor and a Social Hall on the 3rd floor. In 1958, Max & Erma bought the bar and opened their iconic restaurant. Once Max & Erma’s became a national chain, the S. 3rd St. location served as the restaurant’s headquarters.
Now, it’s the home of three exciting new businesses, including Kollektiv, Wunderbar, and Pierogi Mountain. The building has been beautifully remodeled and it retains so much of the old Max & Erma’s era charm, with memorabilia, woodwork, and even the Tiffany lamps remaining.
The remodeling process unearthed some unique treasures, including a photograph from 1891 taken in Schiller Park at the dedication of the Schiller Memorial.
On the first floor, visitors will find the “hot desks,” a sort of seat-yourself coworking area that transforms into a bar after 4 p.m.
On the second floor, there are three private offices, a print room, and a section of dedicated desks.
The third floor has three more private offices, dedicated desks, hot desks, a conference room, a private phone booth, and a comfy common area.
Perks of working at Kollektiv include high-speed wi-fi, local coffee, on-site bar, fully furnished offices, cleaning service, 24/7 building access, mail & package handling, and more. Oh, did we mention that there’s both a bar and pierogi restaurant in the building? Sounds pretty great right? You can learn more about Pierogi Mountain and Wunderbar here.
Kollektiv is also available to rent for special events, corporate meetings, and workshops.
Pricing
Hot desks starting at $150 per month
Dedicated desks starting at $350 per month
Private offices starting at $800 per month
Leases are available at Kollektiv now. Click here for more info.