Stoke, Denton’s coworking space, has gone through many transformations: from more gentle changes after consulting with designers, Hollingsworth and Co., to dramatic evolution through renovation in 2021 and adding 12 offices (completely shifting where the original coworking and dedicated desk areas were located). Throughout all of this and the continued improvement of the design and functionality of the space available, one thing has remained the same: Stoke strives to serve the people of Denton and build community.
How Stoke Builds Up Denton’s Community of Creatives and Small Business Entrepreneurs
Serving Stoke Members
Stoke’s first order of business is to support its member community, which is made up of 43% remote workers and 43% small business owners, working in tech, marketing, advertising, media buying, and content creation. Some members have been part of Stoke since day one, which was in August of 2016, and have witnessed all of the changes in management as well as expansion in program and event offerings. All members, no matter their start date, are welcomed equally and treated with the same community guidelines and values thoughtfully established by Stoke and staff.
Stoke has refined an efficient onboarding process to make it easy for new members to access all of the amenities (high speed WiFi, meeting rooms, coffee and tea, printing/scanning, business address and mail receiving, and more) that come with working from the space on day one of their membership. Additionally, different membership levels have been developed and added through evaluating member needs and space use over the years to ensure that people can choose exactly what they need in terms of access to Stoke and services. Initially, membership levels included the more typical types offered by coworking spaces: virtual membership for people mostly needing a business address, regular day use in coworking, more committed space at dedicated desks, and private offices. Eventually, Stoke added memberships like community access and coworking 24/7 as it became apparent that some people needed to use Stoke at times and frequencies outside of the original levels.
By offering this multi-functional, multi-use supportive space and thoughtfully growing options and opportunities, Stoke enables people to live, work, and enjoy their time in Denton, rather than staying confined to their home office, struggling to focus in a public setting, or driving to the office or a further coworking space for a more productive working environment.
Stoke also actively makes efforts to connect its members to opportunities happening within the space and outside of it in Denton. Staff and program administrators get to know members, their professions and careers, their needs and wants for growth, and are able to suggest resources and contacts from within Stoke’s directory of members as well as externally through Denton’s network of small business owners in the Denton Chamber of Commerce, Denton Main Street Association, and more.
Inviting All Dentonites To Be Part of the Stoke Community
Practicing its values of connection and inclusivity, Stoke has established itself as a Denton institution. You don’t have to be a Stoke member to benefit from what Stoke has to offer. If you need a place temporarily, Stoke offers day passes. If you need informative resources, Stoke has curated those for your use (link to blog, infographic downloads). And, non-Stoke members are encouraged to apply to participate in AccelerateHER, apply for the Denton Pitch Competition, or attend any of the events that Stoke hosts that are open to the public (Coffee + Convo monthly, FlintConf annually, Global Entrepreneurship Week events annually).
Stoke started out as an idea dreamed up by local remote workers, startup owners, and engineers who used to gather at long-gone coffee shop and music venue Banter (now the spot of 940’s Kitchen and Cocktails) to work. Its origin story epitomizes what Stoke has become: a place where people choose to work together, collaborate, and make great things happen.
Art, Machines, and Dentonites You May Know Who Have a Presence at Stoke
Stoke actively chooses to support locals in as many ways as possible. Not only providing a productive workplace for the population of Dentonites who are remote workers, small business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs, Stoke is the patron of these businesses too.
Private offices on the left, dedicated desks on the right under the Tate Hollingsworth mural.
Hollingsworth & Co Design, Art, and Mural Many Make the Whole
Kicking off the start of Stoke’s space refresh before the pandemic, Hollingsworth and Co. collaborated with Heather to brighten and warm up the space with ways as simple as paint and as grand as a mural-sized painting, titled “Many Make A Whole.” This painting occupies one of the dedicated desk areas and represents Stoke’s members who individually make up a remarkable community. In total, the design team added color to the electrical columns, curated functional and sleek furniture, and brought in art for the walls and nooks of Stoke.
Artlab 3000 Mural
Denton duo Melanie Little Gomez Smith and Des Smith, also known as ArtLab 3000, were commissioned to paint a mural that graces two walls leading into the coworking area at Stoke! From the sparkle horse to the multi-headed deer and double bear silhouette, the piece delights members and visitors alike. You find a new detail every time you look! During one evening of Global Entrepreneurship Week in 2021, Stoke hosted a mural reception party, which included an interactive video project by Colectivo Creative Media and a Lao cuisine cooking demo by Good and Golden.
Artlab 3000 Mural inside of the coworking area at Stoke.
Lisa the Risograph, Spiderweb Salon, Delaney Smith Studio
New machine member, Lisa the Risograph Duplicator, was recently serviced and tested by Delaney Smith Studio. Stoke is proud to be Lisa’s new home! Lisa dwells in the printer/scanner nook that is also where Stoke mailboxes are located. Follow Spiderweb Salon for future news about a riso workshop for beginners who are interested in this screen printing process for zines, fliers, art prints, programs, and more.
Snack Town Vending, Mayor Stefanie Lazcano
Stoke provides coffee and tea, and the mayor of Snack Town, Stefanie Lazcano, provides the salty, sweet, and savory goods through her vending machine business. Treats are crucial to keeping you going during the work day, and on the rare occasion there aren’t leftover breakfast tacos from a weekly team meeting or homemade cinnamon rolls from a Stoke member on the kitchen counter, the Snack Town vending machine has you covered. You may have seen Snack Town machines at other Denton establishments, like Harvest House and Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, where Lazcano also stocks whimsical items like star-shaped sunglasses and tarot cards.
Denton County Brewing Beer & Goldenroot Sparkling WaterON TAP!
After years of lobbying for a kegerator, Stoke members succeeded. Several partnerships and iterations of what this looked like later, Denton County Brewing now stocks a pony keg of a beer of the month, to be inaugurated and enjoyed by the monthly member happy hour. (As if there weren’t enough treats to go on at Stoke.) For those who enjoy a no-alc beverage, Goldenroot Gingerbeer supplies sparkling water on tap too!
Triptych-supplied Coffee Grinds
Perhaps the most important beverage at a coworking space, the coffee is carefully chosen and delivered by the owners of Triptych Coffee Co. Triptych Coffee Co. is a mobile, specialty coffee cart founded in 2023. They started out by serving at weekly markets at local plant shop, True Leaf Studio. Triptych also participated in the Denton Pitch Competition (hosted by Stoke!) and won a grant of $3,000. They now serve full time at True Leaf Studio!
Stoke lives out its values, and this is visible through the people and the amenities that you can find there. Stoke welcomes ideas and conversations about community partnerships. Email [heather@stokedenton.com] with ideas!
You’re Invited to Stoke Events Out in Denton
Want to become part of the Stoke community? Visit during a Freebie Friday, attend a virtual event like Coffee + Convo, or join us next month for even more events during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Some events will be hosted at Stoke as well as around town at other venues.