The Nest is a shared work environment where entrepreneurs, freelancers and independent professionals can settle in to write, design, do work, make contacts, share stories and experiences, teach each other and hold private meetings behind a closed door in the conference room.

I’ve been meaning to stop by and check out this hub of nested activity for a while now and decided that the time is now. Before I traveled there I went and looked at their website and saw this:

If you’re like me, you’re thinking one thing: “Well that sounds wonderful...but where the hell are the snacks?”

In my years of experience I have found that good snacking leads to productive and imaginative work and vice versa. The wheel goes round, the circle gets unbroken and the Mlilano goes in the mouth. That’s just the way it is and the way it shall forever be.

So I took it upon myself to correct this snackless situation because that’s what I do!

The Snacks

I got the snack items at the Walgreen Drug Store in Pioneer Park. I usually shop local, but this was a last minute idea and I know they have a nice inventory of snackable items. From left, I chose: Buffalo Blue Cheese Combos, Milk Chocolate Milano Cookies, Cheddar Cheese Combos, two packages of Nice Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix, Mint Chocolate Milano Cookies, a large bag of Nice Veggie Chips and a bag of Reese’s Popped Snack mix. Then I transferred them to Tupperware traveling containers and we are good to go.

The one thing that bothers me about the bottom photo is that I should’ve put the Veggie Chips on different corners for a better aesthetic balance, but what are you going to do?

Here we are at the building that houses The Nest in downtown Peoria. Note the unplanned obligatory shadow mirror shot in the front door, how I love it when that happens! Let’s go in and just like Marvin Gaye, we’ll see what’s going on.

The long hallway leads to an open doorway, then that leads to a closed door. The final frontier you face before entering The Nest. A swift jiggle of the door handle and...

Presto, we’re inside! I went directly to the kitchen area in the back and my assumptions were correct, we are snackless in Seattle. Except we’re in Peoria. But snackless none the less.

Snacks!

Well the snackless situation has been remedied in one fell swoop. Actually it took about three fell swoops but who’s counting? Oh, it appears I am. Anyway, now that that’s corrected let’s take a tour of The Nest!

The Tour

The front room has two women, a couch, comfy chairs, a coffee table and big industrial lights hanging overhead that would really hurt if they fell down and collided with your skull. In the main room there’s communal tables and private work stalls to do your business in. Of course there’s wifi for all of your interweb needs and a nice area to have lunch and/or snacks. I love all the wood and brick in space. It’s got a very nice relaxed yet professional feel in here.

The Conference Room

In the back is a nice conference room to confer in. Or you can rent it and close the door and practice tap-dancing in private in here. The choice is yours.

A Quartet Of Nesters

People who use this space are referred to as Nesters. They’re like Jesters but with an “N.” Here’s four of them that I encountered while walking around in here.

1. Randon Gettys representing Startup GP and The Nest Coworking.

While he’s reluctant to admit it, Randon is the person who’s kind of in charge of things here at The Nest. He’s also the director of Startup GP. You can find out more information about him here, because if you ask him he won’t tell you. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, it’s that he’s too busy listening to “Personality Crisis” by The New York Dolls.

2. Chelsie Tamms representing Lettering Works.

Chelsie Tamms/Lettering Works has been a member at the Nest since early April 2016 after winning a 3-month membership through Startup Weekend Peoria. Chelsie frequently uses the Nest for client meetings, hand lettering workshops, and events such as the 100 Days of Peoria Book Release Party.

Lettering Works specializes in branding and custom design work for businesses, brands, and causes. Right now, Chelsie is working with a few local artists/makers/musicians to build unique brands for them. Another notable project is an event in partnership with the Peoria Riverfront Museum, a Makers Market at the Riverfront Museum, to be held on November 25th (Museum Store Sunday) and provide an opportunity for 25 local makers and artists to sell their work in the Museum's lobby. She’s also hosting a hand lettering event on October 23rd. Her facecrack page is here and she’s also on Instagram.

3. De Ingles representing Smiley Graphix.

De has been working to help businesses build their brand for over ten years here in Peoria. Smiley Graphix has a loyal client base because of the personal work and genuine interest that De develops with the people she works with. De’s past work experience includes being a Graphic Design Adjuct Professor at Bradley University and a Graphic Designer at PJS Publications. Here’s more information and photos over at the Smiley Graphix facecrack page.

4. Daniel Hart representing Daniel Hart Web Design.

Daniel Hart is a freelance web developer, and was one of the first Nest Coworking members back in 2014. That’s why he has the fanciest work station in the joint. He’s based his business out of the Nest ever since, and anyone looking to build and design a website can contact Dan at his website. Of course he’s also on facecrack and here’s a link to his page.