Today we’d like to introduce you to Nabi Jung.
Hi Nabi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When we came to Astoria, my sister and I (our names are Nabi and Dali, respectively), had just decided to move out of Arverne, Queens, and settle into a more commutable neighborhood. It was just as lockdown was ending during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of living in Astoria, we knew we found something special. The area has such a friendly, town-like feel that we hadn’t experienced anywhere else while living throughout Queens. Then after 2 years in the neighborhood, we knew we wanted to become more involved in the community.
We had often thought about starting a small business, and toyed with a lot of different ideas. A friend of mine runs The Austin Space, another boutique coworking space, in Forest Hills, and while talking to him one day he mentioned that he would share his business plan. We took him up on it, and he walked us through the upfront cost, commercial lease process, what technology was needed and etc. It seemed very doable. Dali and I had been office workers for most of our lives, so we were confident that we knew what was needed to make a good office space.
Then, we went on the hunt for the perfect coworking space location. Funny enough, it was our mom who found the space. She saw the listing on Instagram and sent it our way. It was the perfect spot, in the heart of Astoria and just a block from the train, on the iconic 30th Ave triangular block.
Everything else was very hands-on. We painted the walls ourselves and assembled all the furniture piece by piece. For a while it was a real DIY labor of love. Our friends, family and significant others were pulled in to help out, with pizza dinner often as a reward.
We officially opened Astoria Coworking in September 2023. After all the setup, the thing that stuck with us most was how supportive the community was; during our open houses, people we had never met would tell us they were rooting for the business and, even if they didn’t sign up, that they would spread the word for us. Since then, we’ve grown into a second location on Newtown Avenue with private offices and dedicated desks. Our mission hasn’t changed: to build a community where professionals can work, mingle, and create in the heart of Queens. It’s a home office away from home, and we hope everyone who walks in enjoys it as much as we do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting up the business has been a rewarding trial. Some of it is mental, in our first year, we had no way of knowing when the low and high periods of our business were, so we found ourselves assuming failure when a week would go by with no new sign ups. There was also a long period where we were fighting with our HVAC system, a battle that we’re sure we’ll return to someday. Earlier this month there was a rust leak in the pipes that clogged our water filter, and took a few hours to flush out. We feel very, very lucky that nothing has gone horribly wrong, and although we can complain about these small mishaps and are stressed at the time, problem solving is part of the fun..
We’ve been impressed with Astoria Coworking, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Astoria Coworking is an independent, locally owned coworking space run by two sisters who live in the neighborhood. We’re not a big chain, and that’s what people love about us. It feels like your community work space, with a professional, but not overly corporate feel.
We have two locations in Astoria. Our 30th Avenue space is open coworking and conference room rentals, with flexible memberships and day passes for remote workers, freelancers, and small teams. Our Newtown Avenue location is quieter, with lockable private offices and dedicated desks for people who want a permanent home base.
Location is a big part of why people find us. We’re a short walk from the N/W train at 30th Avenue, so Midtown Manhattan is an easy ride away. We’re also just minutes from LaGuardia Airport, which makes us a go-to for business travelers who need a quiet place to work, take a call, or hold a meeting before or after a flight. Many members also come from nearby Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, and Jackson Heights.
Members and day pass users get 24/7 access, phone booths, and conference rooms they can book by the hour. That makes it easy to go from heads-down work to a client call to a team meeting without leaving the building. Our memberships are flexible, with no deposits, no setup fees, and the option to cancel anytime. We wanted to take the stress out of finding a workspace, especially for people whose work lives are always changing.
What sets us apart is the community. We try to get to know our members by name, and make the space as convenient as possible for them so they can focus on what they do best. We have a phone line and direct email, so members can still speak to a real person with any questions or issues they are having. We still do most of the maintenance ourselves, and when we need a vendor, try and source locally as much as possible.
What I’m most proud of is that we’ve created something the neighborhood actually uses and loves. We started with one space and grew into two, through mostly word of mouth and the Astoria community supporting us.
What does success mean to you?
When we first started, success for us simply meant breaking even. We took this on as a personal challenge, to see whether we could actually run a small business and learn what it takes.
Today, without wanting to jinx it, we both feel very successful and incredibly grateful for how far it’s come. The business has grown to the point where we can reinvest in it. That’s how we opened our second location.
Looking ahead, our next goal is building more community. Astoria Coworking is a “5 to 9” for us. We both still have full-time jobs and lives to fit around it, so the early years were all about getting the foundation right. Now that the space is running smoothly, we’re focusing on more member events and creating more ways for people to connect. For us, success is a space where people don’t just work side by side, but actually get to know each other and engage with the community.
Pricing:
- Conference Room Rentals as low as $25/hr
- Day Passes $40/day
- Starter Membership $35/mo
- 10 day Membership $179/mo
- Unlimited Membership $295/mo
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.astoriacoworking.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoriacoworking/
