Behind the Buildout: Workbar Harvard Square, Vol. 5

We're beyond excited to see our Harvard Square location come together after months of planning, design, demolition, and construction. Ready to pick up where we left off?

A Nod to the Neighborhood

Signage is going up and the space is taking shape as we get ready to open our doors, including our meeting rooms named after historic Harvard Square streets. Recognize the street names but not sure what makes them so special? Here's an intro to our new meeting rooms and a little local history lesson: Cambridge then vs. now.

🎞️ Brattle: Once a row of Loyalist mansions known as Tory Row, where George Washington headquartered in 1775, Brattle Street is best known today as the home of the Brattle Theatre — the beloved movie theater famous for its throwback double features and annual film festival of Humphrey Bogart movies streaming, er, showing during Harvard University's exam week.

🪕 Palmer: Once a working-class corridor of blacksmiths and carriage shops established in 1847, Palmer Street is best known today as the home of Club Passim (originally Club 47), the folk-music venue where legends like Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman, and Bob Dylan got their start. It perfectly connects Brattle and Church, with window shopping at The Coop along the way.

🎤 Church: Once a dead-end alley called Hancock Court before it was renamed for the First Parish Church built there in 1833, Church Street is best known today as the home of iconic music venue The Sinclair… and now Workbar Harvard Square.

Finishing Touches

We’re bringing back our go-to millworker who has carefully crafted our other locations’ beautiful Community Manager desks and accompanying feature walls, in addition to the study booths and bar seating you already know and love. We saved you a seat… literally.

Meanwhile, furniture install wraps up this week while the building owner is finishing a major lobby renovation.

As with every opening, we've hit a few last-minute hiccups — this time, a delay with our backsplash tile arriving from Italy, though we'll have a temporary fix in place that members likely won't even notice. Grazie for your patience.

Hello Founding Members

Our Community Manager, Kristy, is ready to welcome you in, with member events already in the works to help you feel at home in the community from day one. You can expect lunch and learns with local founders and networking opportunities — both impromptu and planned.

When you become a Founding Member, you’re not just joining a space, you’re helping shape our energy, culture, and community. You know what they say, the early bird catches the Wor—kbar perks. If you’re getting FOMO reading this, it’s not too late to become a Founding Member too.

Want to learn more? Book a tour with us.