By Felix Hoover

For YourNewsColumbus.com

Posted 06-02-09

 

 

The U.S. Postal Service might not know that Shaun Tucker maintains office space on the first floor at 740 E. Long St. or that Valerie Griffith sets up shop a few blocks away.

 

They are among a growing number of entrepreneurs who plug in their laptop computers at local coffee shops, such as Zanzibar Brews, in the Gateway Building at the 740 location, and Urban Spirit Coffee Shop in the historic Alpha Building, 893 E. Long St.

 

Because Griffith doesn't have Internet access at home, she makes the short walk daily to Urban Spirit to send e-mails, do research and write.

 

Some of her work falls in line with premed, her major at Case Western Reserve University until the poetry bug bit her.

 

Now that her creative side is in charge, she's working on her first novel and is experimenting with magazine writing, she said.

 

Griffith, who just bought her laptop at the end of last year, still puts limits of some of the social networking tools that have hit the market.

 

Up the street and on the other side of the tech spectrum sits Shawn Tucker, 36, who has been computer savvy since his student days at the University of Toledo. Twitter, Facebook and other creations of modern technology and social networking suit him just fine.

 

"I believe the world is our playing field, and going online gives you access to social networking sites and makes you more marketable," he said.

 

He sometimes does his computer work at Cup Of Joe, but more often he flips open his Toshiba laptop at Zanzibar.

 

"People joke, 'Are you at your office?' and they're talking about Zanzibar," Tucker said.

 

"It's so much more for me than just an office spot," he said "I can be working here and accidentally stumble on a jam session."

 

Jazz performance is part of the weekly schedule at Zanzibar, much as at Urban Spirit.

 

The owners of the Gateway Building have offerred Tucker conference room space to conduct meetings, a plus for someone who does political consulting.

 

Close to home, the Zanzibar also is across the street from the Lincoln Theatre and within easy walking distance of black books stores, he said.

 

Unlike Greg Thomas, who sets up camp in the streetside corner behind the bar, Tucker likes to position himself midway between the bar, close to the window. That vantage point allows him to observe everyone who comes into the coffee shop. It also plops him squarely in front of the TV, enabling him to watch CNBC or CSPAN.

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Downtown resident Terry Turner and Nicole Harper of the Far East Side go to Zanzibar weekly to work on a report for the leadership class they're taking at the OSU Extension Center on Mount Vernon Avenue.

 

"It's a bit of a drive for me, but it's worth it," said Harper, who graduated in August with a degree in policy and management from Ohio State Univeristy."This is a good place to get things done and to be in an environment where people are working. You don't get that at home."

 

Some coffeehouses are too loud and play music that's disruptive, said Turner, who recently received his master's in African-American and Africa Studies from OSU. He plans to make Zanzibar a regular work spot until he heads to Purdue University to pursue a doctorate in political science.

 

"Members of the staff go out of their way to meet your needs," Turner said.

 

The Africentric atmosphere at Zanzibar appeals to him as does the plentiful information about the arts and community activities, he said.

 

Were he a weekday visitor, he would have access to the art exhibit on the third floor, which features the photos of Stephanie Matthews, also a laptop regular at the cafe.

 

She sets up at one of the tables about five hours a day, four days a week, mostly in the for early morning or after the lunch rush so as to face limited distractions, she said

 

"I usually spend about $9 to $15 a day and I bring in business, often holding business meetings. It's close to home, so it's easy to stop down and get to work."

 

For someone who works in fashion photography and photojournalism, it doesn't hurt having a steady stream of business, government and arts professionals coming into your work space, Matthews said.

 

The deal works out from the shop owners' side as well.

 

"It's nice to know that people can work in here and not miss work or messages," said Charity Martin-Via, president of Urban Spirit. "It's a win-win."