Team Insight: In Defence of the Cafe Office (and why fluxo is the Fix)

If you’ve ever tried to make a cafe your office, you’ll know the dance: plug in quickly before someone else nabs the only outlet, order one too many drip coffees just to justify your seat, and hope the barista doesn’t side-eye you for staying past the lunch rush.

Jamie Waters captured this tension perfectly in his recent article for The Wall Street Journal. Cafes were once our accidental offices, but many are now pushing back, with some even banning laptops outright. For freelancers, remote workers and frankly anyone craving the human buzz of a cafe while they work, it’s a problem that leaves you stuck between a rock (your cramped apartment desk) and a hard place (a “no laptops allowed” sign).

fluxo exists to solve exactly this.

We partner with cafes, breweries, hotel lobbies, and cultural spaces across New York to turn them into intentional workspots during the day.

‍Here’s how it works: each host creates a Workpass - a simple, bespoke pass for remote workers to purchase. Your Workpass guarantees your spot for the day, covers the essentials and often comes with perks unique to the venue (like speciality coffees, house snack, or discount on additional spend).

Everyone knows the deal: workers get a place that works, and venues welcome a new kind of guest. No awkward looks. No guilt for staying. No guessing games.

It’s better for venues too: instead of unpaid loitering, they earn real revenue during quieter hours, attract new regulars and create the buzz that keeps their spaces alive throughout the week.

fluxo gives you the cafe energy you crave, without the friction. It’s still work with a vibe - just a little more sustainable, for everyone.

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