HOULTON, Maine — Houlton’s historic downtown will soon have a new Internet cafe and collaborative workspace.
Spearheaded by Jim Bell, a Houlton native who returned to the area in 2015, Wired Houlton will soon open for business at 23 Market Square, in the storefront formerly occupied by Shelly’s Cafe. Bell plans to opens the cafe in mid-July, but coffee lovers will be able to get a taste Friday, June 30, as part of the Midnight Madness celebration, when Bell will be serving up freshly brewed iced coffee.
In considering business opportunities, Bell realized that an Internet cafe and collaborative workspace would provide a much-needed opportunity for the community to come together, whether for work or play.
Wired Houlton is intended to offer a fun, casual café environment in which to kick back and relax. Guests can gather with friends, read a book from the cafe shelves, or surf the Internet on the wireless network.
At the same time, Bell plans to address the needs of the growing number of people in the area who work from home by offering what’s known as “cowork space” — a place in which people can come together to enjoy greater productivity and a sense of community.
“At Wired Houlton, cowork participants will have access to high-speed Internet, videoconferencing capabilities, quiet work or meeting space, and other office services, all in a comfortable, relaxed setting,” Bell said.
He plans is to start fairly simple and gauge the demand for space and services, and adjust based on user feedback. Wired Houlton will also provide a different type of collaborative workspace by opening a shared commercial kitchen, available to members of the community at reasonable rental rates.
Bell’s goal is to provide opportunities for the development of food-based businesses by renting shared kitchen space, local entrepreneurs eliminate the often-prohibitive expenses associated with setting up these facilities.
Bell is working with Kathryn Harnish, co-owner of Took a Leap Farm and The Vault Restaurant, to develop the kitchen and build programs that support individuals who want to explore food-based business opportunities.
He plans to offer a full coffee bar, with hot and cold brewed coffee, espresso drinks, tea, and other specialty drinks. Wired Houlton’s quality coffee will come through a partnership with Storibord Coffee Roasters in Fort Fairfield and will be complemented by a small selection of breakfast, lunch, and “anytime” food options that will change daily.
“I wanted to open a casual, friendly gathering place — somewhere our friends would want to hang out and where folks would want to settle in and work,” said Bell. “Doing so in downtown Houlton was important, as I believe that Market Square is the heart of our community, and it needs a more vibrant village center. I’m looking forward to building community through coffee, cowork, and conversation … and can’t wait to open the door to something new in Houlton this summer.”
Follow Wired Houlton on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WiredHoulton for updates on opening plans and other important news.
