As we make the move to Kingston, New York, we’re taking you behind the scenes of how our new space came to be and what it looks like now!
We first began looking for spaces in September of 2019. The Hudson Valley offers a broader array of options than the city, so we initially saw a variety of spaces. They ranged from buildings nestled in the woods all by themselves to old warehouses in midtown Kingston. We were not convinced when we first visited the space that would eventually become our new home. We walked down beneath the offices of The Daily Freeman (Kingston’s daily printed newspaper) to a dark and damp disused basement.
The internal view of the basement space the first time we saw it, and the land directly behind the far wall.
We saw more potential when we understood that the basement walls were at ground level at the rear of the building. Our excitement grew when we learned about the plans to also regenerate this area of land: The existing brush and wetland would be restored by the building owner and connect directly to the end of a new extension to the Kingston Railtrail bike path. Add to this the fact that the building is located only a five minute walk from the Stockade shopping center of Kingston, and we began to see the potential.
In our journey, we also had the help of the indescribably talented Scott Dutton, Kingston’s architect of choice. He further helped us understand how this subterranean space could be filled with natural light and an industrial architectural style. It was our first time thinking about how to formally lay out a larger space in terms of electrical and plumbing, and we were very lucky to have Scott help us through this process.
Architectural renderings of how glass front doors and windows could be added to bring light into the space.
With the onset of COVID-19, our initial plans to move in around July or August were delayed, but thankfully not too much. The improvements to the space began in earnest on June 1, and we were kept updated with regular photos. Piles of debris and broken bricks became exciting signs of progress!
An inner wall was knocked down to let in light, while the outdoor awning made way for a new trellis structure.
Whereas our space in Brooklyn was already a fully finished unit when we moved in, the construction of our new space allowed us to consider what an ideal candle-making space would like for the first time. We were able to plan for a meeting room, a kitchen area, ventilation, ideal lighting, and other elements that will make our life in the new space more productive and enjoyable!
After 2.5 rapid months of construction, we were able to start moving from our old Brooklyn space up to the new Keap HQ, and we will officially open for business next week on September 28th.
We made various visits to the space during COVID and construction to check in on how things were proceeding, and watched the space taking on shape.
We owe a great deal of thanks to our team, who have been so supportive of the move along the way; to Scott Dutton and Joe Deegan, who have welcomed us to Kingston with a perfect space to call home; and to everyone in Kingston who has already made us feel so welcome.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and to play our part in the Kingston community! If you are ever in the neighborhood, let us know and we can schedule a visit.
Warmly,
Stephen, Harry and The Keap Team
