Building in Public: My Next Big Idea for Cumberland

A creative mockup of “The Hub” — a future coworking and community space in Cumberland, imagined as a vibrant gathering spot for freelancers, remote workers, and local entrepreneurs.

Over the past few months, I’ve been diving deep into a new idea that feels both exciting and challenging: launching a coworking and community hub in Cumberland, Maryland.

Cumberland is full of charm, but when I landed here, one thing I noticed right away was the lack of places where freelancers, remote workers, and small teams can gather to work, collaborate, and build together. Coffee shops are great, but they don’t always give you the stability or infrastructure that remote work requires. I kept thinking: what if there was a space dedicated to this?

The Spark

I connected with Richard Ammerman, a local business owner who recently bought a building downtown (137 Virginia Ave). From the start, we saw overlap in our ideas: a space that could bring energy into downtown, host creative professionals, and maybe even support workshops and educational events.

Like any startup story, though, the details matter. Richard and I have had some really thoughtful back-and-forth about structure. He’s interested in a more involved partnership, while I realized I’d prefer to start simpler — by leasing part of the building and proving the concept first.

The Plan (for Now)

Here’s the direction I’m leaning into:

• Lease the front/reception space at 137 Virginia Ave at a fair, low-end market rate.
• Take on operations myself — everything from build-out, cleaning, and marketing to memberships and programming.
• Keep responsibilities clean so there’s no confusion over decision-making.
• Commit to 12 months to give the hub a real chance to succeed.

This way, Richard benefits from rent and an activated space in his building, while I get the clarity and control needed to test the idea. If it works, we can always revisit deeper collaboration, partnerships, or even expanding into the rest of the first floor (which could make an amazing set of private suites).

Why Build in Public?

I’m sharing this process because:

1. Transparency keeps me accountable.
2. It helps others learn. If you’ve ever wondered how a community hub gets started, here’s the messy middle.
3. Community feedback matters. A project like this only works if locals are excited about it.

What’s Next

I’ll be putting together a lease proposal and, if things move forward, starting the build-out of the first space. My goal is to make this not just a coworking spot, but a real community hub — something that brings value to Cumberland, helps people connect, and makes remote work feel less lonely.

If you’re in the area and this resonates, I’d love to hear from you. Would you use a space like this? What would make it feel valuable?

Building something new always feels like standing at the edge of possibility. Scary, yes — but also really exciting.

Stay tuned. This is just the beginning.

— Brady