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Not everyone can afford to have an office in the heart of downtown Orillia. Until now.
Entrepreneurs Mariano Tulipano and Robb MacDonald, who have been friends since 1993, have teamed up to create a unique downtown incubator of sorts. The pair have refurbished an 800-square foot commercial space in one of the city’s oldest buildings and are offering up the area to fellow entrepreneurs.
“It’s really a great space for working professionals, for freelance contractors, for business start-ups,” said MacDonald of the bright, spacious unit with soaring ceilings above Patilero Bakery on Mississaga Street.
“It’s very cost effective, especially for those just starting out,” added Tulipano.
The space will be rented according to usage needs – not physical space. “It will be customized for each tenant,” MacDonald explained. “The price ranges from $25 a month for someone who may only need the space for one day a month to $325 for someone who needs access to it 24/7.”
The innovative cooperative is MacDonald’s brainchild. He said a similar concept in Toronto caught his eye a few years ago.
“My original idea was for a shared co-operative working space for non-profits and organizations working toward making a difference … and, over time, we just decided to open it up to everyone,” said MacDonald, who owns MacComm International, a social marketing and communications company he founded in 1994.
“I worked out of my home for several years and I liked it, but there was an isolation factor,” said MacDonald, who moved into Tulipano’s historic Kean Block property in 2009. “There’s a certain energy that can be created when you work in an environment like this … I love it.”
Another part of the attraction is being downtown, in the heart of the city’s bustling business district.
“When I was researching the concept, there were three things the experts said were keys to being successful,” said MacDonald. “They said you should have an open space, be located in the downtown and, ideally, be in a heritage building. We have all three.”
The new concept is being born and raised in what is likely the oldest Orillia building in private hands. Five years ago, Tulipano purchased the Kean Block property – a two-storey triple storefront at 21 Mississaga St. E. built by businessman Frank Kean in 1873.
When Tulipano bought the historic building, it was a structure with good bones that had been neglected by an out-of-town landlord. Tulipano lovingly restored the upstairs units, removing worn carpets, refinishing the floors, and restoring some of the historic elements that had been hidden by layers of paint and years of neglect.
Today, the three main-level storefronts are home to three thriving enterprises: Marvel Beauty School, Patilero’s and Lahay’s Hobby and Crafts.
For Tulipano, it’s been a labour of love. He believes deeply in the downtown, which is why he situated his business, Downtown Computers – which he sold last year while maintaining ownership of the building – on the main street when it opened in 1995.
“The opportunity to work downtown, to have people around you, to be part of that energy – there’s really nothing like it,” said Tulipano. “To me, the downtown is the heart and soul of the community. There’s so much energy and vitality … I love the feeling of walking the sidewalk downtown, stopping to chat with people. I really enjoy the downtown.”
And with this new venture, others can share that experience, said Tulipano. “When Robb started talking to me about this venture, I could immediately see that it could really fit the bill for a lot of people,” said Tulipano. “To think you could have office space in the downtown, at a reasonable price, to have at your convenience … it’s a pretty novel, practical idea.”
The rent, which ranges from $25 to $325 per month, includes high-speed internet, access to a copier, printer, projection unit and screen, whiteboard, bathrooms and other amenities.
The duo has already inked its first client: the space is now the home of the Central Ontario satellite office for the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition.
For more information, email robb@maccomm.ca or mtulipano@rogers.com or call MacDonald at 705-321-0410 or Tulipano at 705-955-4403.
Photo:
Robb MacDonald, right, and Mariano Tulipano love working in a heritage building in the heart of downtown Orillia and think others also might enjoy the experience. The long-time friends are offering space in a unique co-operative for $25 to $325 per month, depending on a client’s needs.
