Business & Tech

What Lies Behind the New Look at Swork

The iconic coffeehouse is in the midst of a grand redesign partly influenced by Swiss cafés.

If you’ve been to Swork lately, you’ve doubtlessly noticed: Eagle Rock’s most popular independently owned coffeehouse is being redesigned and has been attracting more customers than ever before.

The renovation began about two weeks ago and the first thing you’re likely to notice about Swork’s new look is that there are now two distinct spaces for customers—neatly separated by a third space consisting of two new, comfortable and cool-looking Italian-design leather couches to lounge in.

The first area, immediately to the left of the entrance, is what Swork owner Patricia Neal Vuagniaux refers to as the “community space.” It consists of individual tables and chairs where customers can work on their laptops—although that might change in the months to come as two “community tables” are added with the aim of encouraging interpersonal interactions and offline discussions.

“People really like to come to Swork to work, but things can explode at times when they talk to each other,” says Vuagniaux, explaining the rationale behind the community space.

The second area, facing the entrance, is what Vuagniaux calls the “E-space,” but which some customers also refer to as the “co-work space.” Consisting of long wooden tables equipped with USB ports, this is also a communal space that seats about 20 people—almost double the number who could be accommodated under the previous design.

Perhaps the biggest change at Swork has yet to come: The bar will be pushed back, barstools added, and a range of organic salads and soups made in-house will be available for self-serving, in addition to a wider variety of baked goods.

If the new vibe at Swork feels somewhat European, it won’t be a coincidence. “We were in Switzerland for about a month and picked up a lot of ideas about how people self-serve in cafés,” says Vuagniaux, referring to a family vacation she recently took along with her Swiss-born husband Gilbert, a general contractor who’s helping with the redesign.

“We like to call it the yearlong renovation—that’s how long it’s going to take,” says Vuagniaux, explaining that every few months she plans to save and put aside money for Swork’s grand redesign.

Cheers, anyone?


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