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10 February 2021
www.thevillagenews.co.za
LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL
Work, play and eat at Co.Unity Writer Hedda Mittner
C
o.Unity Shared Workspaces in Hermanus, which opened its doors three months into the lockdown, continues to expand on its offering, ranging from a half-day or full-day pass, to a flexi 5-day pass or a 30-day pass. Whether you choose an open hot desk, a cubicle or a private office, you only pay for the time you use the space. Customers can also make use of Co.Unity’s 1-hour ‘on the go’ option, book the ‘Zoom Room’ for video conferencing or the boardroom with its smart screen, ideal for meetings, training and interviews. It’s an attractive option for people working remotely who would like to get out of the house and enjoy all the convenience of unlimited, super-fast fibre WiFi, back-up generator power that immediately kicks in during load-shedding, and coffee on tap, not to mention the friendly and energetic vibe of this unique facility. While the Co.Unity Café has been part of this innovative business since it opened in July last year, ensuring easy access to great coffee and light snacks such as muffins and sarmies, they were not able to do any cooking on the premises. Which is why owners Craig and Brett Austin have
now also added a food truck, which is parked in front of the building and provides more substantial grub for breakfast or lunch. Behind the griller is Johnny Botha, who is not to be confused with your regular burger-flipper. Johnny previously worked at Fisherman’s Cottage with Chef Anton Verhoogt, from whom he says he learnt a great deal. Johnny is looking forward to doing his own thing here at Co.Unity, preparing scrumptious street food that can be enjoyed on the go or at one of the outside tables. This is no run-of-the-mill fast food but mouth-watering creations that will change regularly – last week it was an innovative breakfast bun and a ‘dirty dog’ (a Frankfurter roll with sauerkraut and gherkins), and next week it might be fish tacos (with pineapple or mango salsa, served with an avo, sour cream and pickled onion crema) or a gourmet burger (a 200gr beef patty with white Cheddar, bacon jam, crumbed and deep-fried tomato, butter lettuce and garlic aioli). Craig says the food truck is a great solution for their customers when they start feeling peckish but don’t necessarily want to disrupt their working day by setting off to one of the eateries in town. It fits in well with Co.Unity’s vision of providing a
WINE & DINE
vibrant, safe and convenient hub for the Hermanus business community. “Since the start of the pandemic, many small businesses have had to give up their offices and employees are adjusting to working from home – something that freelancers and the self-employed have already been doing. Working in isolation, though, does have its challenges, including poor internet connectivity and load-shedding. Our vision is to pull people out of their homes and connect them by creating a hub where ideas are shared and businesses can thrive and grow, bringing revenue into our local community,” says Craig. Part of that vision is attracting digital nomads who can live and work anywhere, he adds – and what better place is there than Hermanus? “The local economy would be more sustainable if it weren’t so tourist-centric and we have already seen digital nomads relocating to Hermanus from cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg.” With all the changes we’ve been forced to make in our professional lives due to the lockdown, Craig’s philosophy of ‘Live where you want, not where you work’ is making a whole lot of sense. For more information, visit www. co-unity.co.za or contact 028 050 1028 or info@co-unity.co.za. You’ll find them at 18 Royal Street (c/o Dirkie Uys St).
ABOVE: Johnny Botha in his new food truck at Co.Unity (still waiting on its branding) serving Rebecca Mathyssen one of his delicious ‘dirty dogs’. On her left is Craig Austin, co-owner of Co-Unity. RIGHT: Barista Allen Chimpeni and his assistant Ruth Mbire serve great coffee on the go at the Co.Unity Café. PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner
