COhatch to host throwback grand opening celebration

When COhatch – The Market opened in Downtown Springfield in June 2020, many pandemic restrictions were in place and hosting a big grand opening celebration wasn’t in the cards.

But, just over a year later, COhatch is thriving and ready to celebrate with the community that supported the local co-working space and gathering hot-spot.

COhatch is hosting a throwback grand opening called Back to the Opening from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24.

“We reached our 1-year anniversary of our opening last June. We never really got to have the grand opening we wanted to share how excited we are to be a part of Springfield,” says Rachel Erie, community manager for COhatch Springfield. “Now, we’re really plugged into the community and helping to revitalize the downtown.

“We hit a year of business, and that couldn’t have been done without Springfield rallying around us and all the other businesses during COVID.”

The free building-wide event will be 80s-themed, and attendees are encouraged to come dressed in 80s costumes.

“We will be walking back in time. We want it to be fun, and we want to make it interactive,” Erie says. “We want people to dress in their best costumes. We’ll have prize drawings for the best dressed adult and best kid costumes.”

Restaurants and bars within COhatch will all be open during the event and will offer specials, for example:

• Myers Burgers and Wings – North High Single Specialty Burger and a chocolate or vanilla milkshake for $12
• The Painted Pepper – Back to the Future specials for the restaurant’s early days as a food truck, including Brisket Tacos with rainbow carrots, feta cheese, and candied jalapenos; and Dusted Dessert Chips with sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne.

The event will also feature live music with local favorites The Temps, and guests will be able to check out the recently opened basement space that includes bocce ball, darts, cornhole, and Dial-8 Designs arcade games.

Market coins – COhatch’s version of a gift card – and limited edition COhatch Springfield T-shirts will be available for purchase at the event. And, Erie says they will be working to promote and educate about the COhatch scholarship program.

“This event is absolutely both a celebration and thank you to the community,” Erie says.