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See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

The city’s stylish new co-working spaces are tempting workers out of coffee shops

By Jean Grant| Photography by Derek Shapton
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See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District
Make Lemonade

326 Adelaide St. W. (near John)

Rent: From $300 per month for shared space; $400 for a fixed desk Number of members: 150 Best perk: Unlimited lemonade

Two years ago, Rachel Kelly decided she was done freelancing out of cafés, where the Wi-Fi was sketchy and privacy was non-existent. She began to wonder what other options there were. She wanted the same kind of supportive, feminist community she regularly engaged with online—so she set out to create a co-working office that would double as a kind of mecca for female empowerment.

Kelly found a unit in a six-storey office building at Peter and Adelaide and recruited family and friends to help transform it into a bold, cheerful space, with pastel-hued chairs, walls decorated with inspirational quotes and plenty of lemon-inspired design elements (including two actual lemon trees). Now, stepping into the yellow-walled office is like entering a surreal bubble of positivity.

Make Lemonade has attracted a membership of female entrepreneurs, many of whom attend regular business-focused workshops, panel discussions and lunch-and-learns. The place is an incubator for powerful lady bosses. Even so, it’s far from a no-boys-allowed zone. Men are welcome, as long as they’re willing to abide by the office’s community guidelines, which stress girl power and inclusivity.

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Kelly hired local design firm MMNT to help her with the interiors:

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

 

An indoor meeting space is carpeted in AstroTurf and wallpapered with a green, leafy print:

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

 

The lemon motif extends to the walls:

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See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

 

The kitchen has a Smeg fridge and a black-and-white tiled floor that spells “be nice.” (Naturally, it has become a popular place for people to Instagram their shoes.)

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

 

The walls are decorated with inspirational quotes:

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

 

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Who works here?
See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

Bili Balogun, 23
Tribe Beauty Box “We deliver a box of full-size trendy and indie beauty products every two months.”

     

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

Katy Mansell-Carter, 28
Katy the Copywriter “I write sales copy that helps women entrepreneurs get their messages heard.”

     

See inside Make Lemonade, a feminist co-working space in the Entertainment District

Lisa Zamparo, 34
The Wellth Company “We are a financial advisory firm for female-led start-ups, small businesses and self-employed women in Toronto.”

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