It was her own dissatisfaction with working from home that led Pound Ridge resident Erin Trostle to open Martin House, a co-working space, in her hometown. Echoing the sentiments of many of her clients, Trostle says, “I found it harder to be productive at home because of distractions, and also found the experience isolating.”
Last year’s renovation of Pound Ridge Market Square, and getting feedback from other working women in the area, gave Trostle the impetus to open the space on Main Street. “I saw the business district could use more foot traffic and that people in our town, who generally seem to work remotely, would benefit from coming to a work space which provides structure.” Trostle notes that people who work from home may have the space to do so, but not the environment.
Staige Grymes, a Wilton resident, has been working at Martin House since the end of 2018. “The ability to have a dedicated space to come to every day is a great resource.” Grymes says she’s found there’s a huge mental health benefit to being in an office environment. “It allows me to be more focused and there’s a real sense of camaraderie here.”
Martin House, which has been open since May 2018, offers clients a number of options for membership, ranging from a monthly Community Membership to an Unlimited Access membership. The memberships reach beyond Martin House and offer members discounts at local businesses and the opportunity to market products and services at Martin House Marketplace. “To be successful in the co-working field you have to offer value-added services,” Trostle says. To that end the Marketplace encourages the “big population of entrepreneurs” in the area to promote their businesses.
Trostle says Martin House has been drawing clients from a 15-mile radius. “There are a number of towns in Northern Westchester and parts of Connecticut that don’t have train stations and Martin House offers a more professional option than camping out in a coffee house all day.”
Martin House Workspace
69 Westchester Ave.,
Pound Ridge
