A new space in an old place

Town Corner Coworking brings modern concept to historic building

Fred McCormick 
The Valley Echo
September 23, 2021

Peter Ballhaussen, who has owned Town Hardware & General Store with his wife Beth since 2013, launched Town Corner Coworking on the second floor this summer. Photo by Fred McCormick

Throughout their nearly 100-year histories, the three buildings currently home to the Town Hardware & General Store have served a variety of purposes. The two-story brick structure in the middle, the largest of the trio, was built by former mayor, R.L. Woodard, who then moved Black Mountain Hardware over from Sutton Avenue in the early 1920s. By the middle of the decade, it was nestled between a grocery store, which later became a five-and-dime, and a pharmacy that faced the town’s main intersection until 1999. 

By the time Peter and Beth Ballhaussen acquired Town Hardware in 2013, the business had grown to occupy all three historic buildings, where Town Corner Coworking is bringing a modern concept to an old landmark. 

It didn’t take long for the Ballhaussens to realize the hardware store was woven tightly into the fabric of the community, but they also discovered a significant amount of underutilized space on the top floor. Used predominantly for storage by previous owners, decades of dust covered what was once the office of Dr. A.E. Knoefel, Sr., who practiced medicine in Black Mountain in the early 20th century. 

“We knew if we cleaned it out, and moved everything downstairs, we could do something up here,” Peter said. “We had people saying we should convert it to residential units or a permanent office.”

The couple, who own and operate the business, decided to focus exclusively on running Town Hardware for the first few years, but a casual conversation planted a seed that turned into a vision. 

“Right around the end of 2015, or the beginning of 2016, someone asked me if I had heard of coworking spaces,” Peter said. “I didn’t know much about the concept at the time, but I started researching it online.”

The idea that independent professionals could be better served in an open, community-oriented environment took root in 2005, when Brad Neuberg established San Francisco Coworking Space in the Spiral Muse House. By the time Peter heard the term a decade later, thousands of coworking spaces were operating around the world. 

An open, modern space in Town Corner Coworking features 12 flex spaces that can be rented daily, four cubicles and three dedicated desks. Photo by Fred McCormick

Mojo Coworking opened its doors in 2011 in Asheville, which is now served by more than a dozen similar venues. The Junction, which operates in a building constructed by the McKoy family as a boarding house in 1895, introduced the coworking concept to Black Mountain in 2016. 

Peter visited several coworking spaces in the area as his vision for Town Corner came into focus. 

“Once I understood how it worked, I knew it could really be successful up here,” he said. “We had this configuration that already included offices, and room for a large coworking space.”

A series of setbacks, including a devastating 2017 vehicle collision in front of the store, forced the Ballhaussens to push back the remodeling project. They resumed their plan for the 3,500-square-foot space at the end of 2019. 

“We got everything lined up, and literally, the day before the loan was approved was the day the COVID-19 restrictions hit,” Peter said. “I remember we said, ‘well, if this pushes it back another two or three weeks, we can deal with that.’”

The renovations were initially expected to be completed in the fall of 2020, but Town Corner opened its doors in June of this year. While the pandemic delayed the project, it also produced an influx of professionals now working remotely. 

Peter Ballhaussen, and his wife Beth, renovated the space above Town Hardware & General Store to create Town Corner Coworking. The office space in the nearly 100-year-old building was home to a medical practice in the early 20th century. Photo by Fred McCormick

“We had a number of people that expressed interest immediately,” Peter said. “Word got around and people wanted to come in and see it.”

The finished product, accessed through dedicated entry along West State Street, boasts five furnished offices, three of which provide individual accommodations. Two of the offices contain two desks, and can be shared. One of them is permanently occupied by the Elvis Presley bust that has claimed a spot in the window for years.

“When we were working on this, one of the most common questions was: ‘you’re not going to get rid of Elvis, are you?’” Peter said. “He’s going to stay right here.”

A large open coworking area features three dedicated desks, four cubicles and 12 flex spaces, available for daily use. 

The design features a break section with couches and a spacious kitchen containing a refrigerator, microwave, convection oven and dishwasher. The adjoining common area includes a printing center and conference room. 

“We wanted to have a comfortable environment for people, whether they are using it for the day or have a dedicated space,” Peter said. “We were very intentional in trying to create a relaxed, professional atmosphere.”

The modern touches incorporated into the space stand in sharp contrast to its recent history as a storage area, but the original wood flooring and antique office doors used by Dr. Knoefel decades ago are a nod to an earlier era. 

“It’s very easy to picture this place as a doctor’s office right here in the center of town back then,” Peter said. “We didn’t remove any walls or anything, so it looks similar to how it would’ve looked at that time.”

While the hardware store has served a consistent need in the community for nearly a century, Town Corner Coworking is addressing a new, and growing one, according to Peter.

“A lot of people are working from home now, and home doesn’t meet their needs all of the time, making this a convenient option for local residents,” he said. “And, over the years, we’ve talked to a lot of people visiting from out of town who asked about a quiet place to do some work while they were here. I think we have a good market for this, and it’s really a perfect use of that space.”

For more information about Town Corner Coworking, visit towncornercoworking.com, call 828-357-5372 or visit 105 West State Street during normal business hours.