Urbana, Champaign businesses launch new collaboration

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — One business in Champaign is expanding and for another business, it means there is more to offer following its grand reopening.

Bakelab, which already has a location in Urbana, held the soft opening of its newest location inside Lodgic Coworking in Champaign. Lodgic offers everything from work desks and conference rooms, to areas for speakers to give lecture-style presentations.

BakeLab’s Head Baker and Co-Founder Stacy Shi said Lodgic proposed the partnership to them in late 2023. From there, the team at Bakelab’s traveled to study from world-famous bakers.

“I think it’s really a lot of a culture of things and also different. I think technically it’s, you know, you have a basic tenet, but a lot of training stuff, a lot of new flavor, new ingredients and new machines,” she said. “People are using it to make it easier. I think you need to keep constantly accepting like a new idea.”

BakeLab’s second location invites everyone to network together. Lodgic offers everything from work desks and conference rooms, to areas for speakers to give lecture-style presentations for a paid membership.

A day pass for Lodgic is $25 and a monthly membership is $200, while the Cafe in the front offers the balance of a nice coffee and pastry to start the work day.

“As we grow and as this collaboration just deepens, we’re creating a place for people to come together and have a good time growing and expanding,” said Lodgic Creative Director Emily Atkins. “This is kind of like a lily pad to whatever comes next,” she said.

The owners said that since the pandemic, working from home has become a preference for many. BakeLabs Co-Founder Tim Chao hopes that the space they offer will help build back a sense of community.

“Our societies are changing so much, especially for the young, young people, younger generations,” Chao said. “Now, we have a lot more, you know, freelancers, whether it’s photography or graphic design. This is really how our economy is moving, especially for younger people that want to connect globally to find work, but they might not want to just work at home. You know, they get bored.”

Owners said they hope it excites creation all while feeding the brain with tasty sweets.

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