Community: The Hub Glens Falls Experience
Shane Johnson, Heather Johnson, and Chuck Copenspire have collaborated on a recent project that just had their grand opening in May. They created Hub Glens Falls, a collaborative workspace for remote professionals, freelancers, and creatives. The journey to opening their doors involved a desire to reinvigorate community among a dispersed group of people.
Chuck Copenspire moved to the Glens Falls area from Portland, Oregon, to be with his partner, Jared, raising a family. Chuck’s positive force for imbuing a sense of community has been a lifelong ambition. He has experience with operating a coworking space in Spokane, Washington back in 2015, called Fellow Coworking. It hosted events for people to gather together, whether to collaborate or enjoy each other’s company, as well as ample space for private work.
Shane and Heather Johnson are artists and curators who launched Hub Gallery in the fall of 2023. Their space quickly became a creative hub, showcasing work from dozens of artists across upstate New York, New Jersey, and beyond. Through their shared passion for community and the arts, they connected with Chuck Copenspire, sparking a friendship that naturally grew into a collaborative vision for the next phase of Hub.
They certainly have cultivated and created a lovely spot, located in the annex to the Shirt Factory. The Shirt Factory is a building that was once owned by McMullen-Leavens in the early 1900’s until closing its doors in 1996 due to the death of its founder and a changing fabric economy. It is currently owned by Eric Unkauf, who has gradually directed the building to house over 70 small business vendors, offering many different commodities from books to tea to glassware. The facility hosts hundreds of community events each year, and the upstate community has continued to take pride in its unique qualities.
When you walk through the Hub Glens Fall’s doors, the bright orange decor is a dazzling sight to witness. The orange hue instantly uplifts your spirit, as you walk around the room decorated with variously sized art. They have two desks, with a cozy alcove featuring a bright orange sofa and chairs for a small meeting. For larger meetings, they acquired an expandable conference table that extends to hold a dozen of seats.
On their website, they describe the space as “a coworking space, rentable conference room, and community gathering spot for remote professionals, small businesses, and creatives. Whether you need a drop-in workspace or a venue for a small event, we provide a flexible, affordable, and inspiring environment in the heart of Glens Falls, NY.”
The Hub will fit perfectly well in the shadow of the Shirt Factory. Its goal of collaboration among creatives, small business owners, freelancers, and the community will continue to shine bright in the city. Be sure to visit their space and their website to learn more and plan a visit at: www.hubglensfalls.com.