At the reception desk of The Speakeasy Emporium is a sign that reads, “Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space.”
That’s the vision Christina Geddes, owner/operator of The Speakeasy Emporium, had when she established the business cooperative in 2014.
“It was an unused space in the downtown core with low overhead that no one had access to,” said Geddes. “I thought, ‘What a great way of letting people get started'.”
The Speakeasy Emporium is comprised of two companion locations just around the corner from one another at 45A Spruce St. S. and 278 Third Ave. in downtown Timmins.
The Third Avenue location is currently at capacity, but the Spruce Street South location was recently vacated and is now available to rent for $1,000 per month or less, depending on how many businesses share the space. No leases are required, and renters are labeled as “partners” rather than tenants.
With all its partners having recently moved on, The Speakeasy Emporium's Spruce Street location may have to close if it can’t bring in new tenants soon. Geddes said she will either need to pay the overhead out of her own pocket or give up the space for good.
Geddes’ concern is that potential business owners will miss out on the opportunities that a shared space can provide.
“It still takes passion, hard work, and tenacity to start a business,” Geddes said. “But an incubator takes some of the sharp edges away.”
The Speakeasy Emporium’s rent is due Jan. 1.
Geddes says she modeled the operation after successful business incubators in other cities, such as The Hub in Toronto.
“Starting up a business is a scary idea for a lot of people,” Geddes said. “They know what they want to do, they know what they’re good at, but a long-term commercial lease maybe isn’t feasible.”
Several successful local businesses still in operation today were once housed in The Speakeasy Emporium, including Freedom and Relaxation, Rachelle’s Lil Cake Shoppe, Sewn Home, and Vapor Lounge 180.
Eric Perron, owner of Vapor Lounge 180, was one of The Speakeasy Emporium’s earliest partners. He used the space for approximately six months in 2014.
Perron said his time there was essential to complete “the necessary market research to develop our business model” and get “real numbers to develop a solid business plan.”
Vapor Lounge 180, a retail outlet for nicotine vapourizer products, is now located at 88 Wilson Ave. in Timmins.
Rachelle Parkinson, owner/baker at Rachelle’s Lil Cake Shoppe, operated her business out of The Speakeasy Emporium for nearly a year starting in spring 2016.
“While there I was able to build a network of contacts with other businesses which, to a budding entrepreneur, is vital,” Parkinson says. “It’s the perfect stepping stone for any new business owner looking to start out.”
Rachelle’s Lil Cake Shoppe, where she makes custom cakes with vegan and gluten free options, is now located at 78 Bruce Street in South Porcupine.
David Lundberg, owner/operator of Sewn Home, operated his business out of The Speakeasy Emporium for eight months starting in 2016 while he attempted to transition from a home business to a commercial space.
“The Speakeasy was quite simply a huge relief,” Lundberg said. “The extremely low rent in comparison to traditional commercial spaces allowed me to focus on expanding the business to the point where I could afford my current location.”
Sewn Home, a canvas tent and tipi manufacturer and sewing machine service and repair shop, is now located at 265 Spruce St. S. in Timmins. Lundberg said he will be installing commercial signs at the new location in early 2018.
Hélène Fontaine, owner of Freedom and Relaxation, was the most recent business owner to move on from The Speakeasy Emporium. She was there for a year, exiting in December 2017.
“It was perfect for hosting my classes and receiving my clientele,” said Fontaine. “Accessible and quiet, everything I needed was available, and the manager is always willing to do more to help us.”
Freedom and Relaxation, which offers massages, Chinese therapies, Reiki and more, now has two locations at 323 Maple St. S. in Timmins and 420 Fifth Ave. in Matheson.
