Green Stone
Ely's community-owned third place
Greenstone Studio hopes to open in fall 2027 in a downtown building, offering coworking, an adjustable Kilter Board, sauna, and a kitchenette, open to members around the clock. We then hope to expand into Greenstone Climbing, a purpose-built bouldering gym, following in 2028 or 2029.
Why
Winter is long in Northern MN
In December the sun is gone before five and most of downtown is already dark. Ely is very community oriented and this space would provide another indoor place to run into people, work for a few hours, or do anything active regardless of the weather.
The nearest wall or desk is 100 miles away.
There is no climbing gym or coworking space anywhere near Ely. People who want them drive to Duluth or go without.
The college and seasonal workers
Minnesota North – Vermilion plus the many camps brings hundreds of students and staff to town every year, with few options to go between classes and after dark. A warm place downtown keeps them in Ely.
What is it
Work, social, play and recover
- Work
- Open desks with fast fiber, a call room for the meeting you can't take at a coffee shop, and a bookable meeting room. Keycard access 24/7, so a 6 a.m. start or a late night both work.
- Play
- An adjustable Kilter Board: a lit, app-driven climbing wall you can tilt from a casual warm-up to a steep training session. Thousands of problems at every grade, set by climbers around the world.
- Recover
- Two real saunas with showers. Sweat after a session, thaw out after a ski, or book one with friends on a January evening.
- Social
- A kitchenette with coffee always on and a big table for lunches, game nights, and fostering conversation.
How a co-op works
Owned by the people who use it
Step 1
Members own it
A co-op is a business owned by the people who use it. You buy one member share, and that makes you a part-owner for as long as you want to be. Any surplus goes back into the building and the members, not to an investor.
Step 2
One member, one vote
Every member gets exactly one vote on the board and the big decisions, no matter how long they've been in or what they've put in. Nobody can buy control.
Step 3
Founding members get a head start
The first 100 people to pledge become founding members. When the doors open they get a locked-in discount on dues, and their names on the wall, for helping start this before it existed.
Step 4
Nothing happens before 100 pledges
A pledge is not a payment. It is a promise to join if we open. The co-op signs no lease, buys no building, and collects no money until 100 people have pledged. If we don't get there, nobody owes anything.
Planned timeline
From interest check to open doors
Fall 2026Now
Step 1: Interest check
A survey, finding interested parties and business partners, and holding information sessions. This is the step we are on right now.
Winter 2026–27
Step 2: Form the steering committee
A small group of members takes on bylaws, financing, and the building search.
Spring 2027
Step 3: Share drive & building purchase
With 200 pledges in hand, we incorporate, sell member shares, and close on a downtown building.
Summer 2027
Step 4: Remodel
Desks, call room, meeting room, the Kilter Board, two saunas, showers, and a kitchenette go in.
Fall 2027
Step 5: Greenstone Studio opens
Founding members get their keycards. Work, climb, sauna, and hang out, any hour of the day.
2028–29
Step 6: Greenstone Climbing
Phase 2: a purpose-built bouldering gym in ely, with funding made easier by the Studio's track record. (hopefully!)
Who we are
Two Ely residents, so far
We’re Mitchell and Cheyenne, new transplants to Ely! We work remotely but love the social atmosphere of an office, we like climbing, and a good sauna in the winter. Knowing we would have to drive two hours to climb and missing a social work space we wanted to recreate that in the place we’ve fallen in love with. Right now it’s just an idea, we haven’t started a company or bought a building and that’s on purpose. We believe in community and think this business should be shaped by the people who will own it which is why we want to form a co-op.
This winter we are forming that steering committee of five to seven motivated members of the community to take on bylaws, financing, and the building search. If you have time, skills, or just strong opinions about saunas, we want to hear from you.
Join the steering committeeContact us
Questions, ideas, or a hand to lend
Want to join the steering committee, know of a building, or have a question before you pledge? Send a note and one of us will get back to you.
Or email hello@greenstonecoop.com.