Doubling Up: NY restaurants sharing space with freelancers

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Have you ever sat in a restaurant to work? Many restaurants in New York are beginning to harness mobile technologies to become multi-use spaces. CGTN's Karina Huber takes a look.

The Hotel Chantelle in New York City is a bustling bar and restaurant by night. By day, it's transformed into a workspace for some of the city's freelancers and entrepreneurs.

It's one of six establishments affiliated with KettleSpace, an app that links remote workers with bars and restaurants looking to boost revenue in their off-hours. They get a percentage of the membership fees.

ANDREW LEVY, CO-FOUNDER KETTLESPACE "It's meaningful revenue that requires very little operational effort for them and they see an uptick in food and beverage sales-either that flow directly from our members on site or that they order after hours when the space is turned back into a restaurant."

Alex Portera, a writer and video producer, comes here often. He gets unlimited beverages and snacks. He says it's far superior to setting up shop in a cafe where he says it's hard to get work done.

ALEX PORTERA FREELANCER "I almost never get an outlet, the WiFi is spotty, there's usually music blaring that I don't necessarily like and I also - like I like coffee, but I feel guilty all day long if I'm working there and not buying stuff. So, I end up spending like 15 dollars - like I'm over-caffeinated by the end of the day and I have to buy a sandwich that I don't necessarily want."

Levy says membership with KettleSpace costs less than a fifth of what it does at shared workspace giant, WeWork.

KARINA HUBER NEW YORK "KettleSpace is just one of many new startups to appear on the New York scene that enable bars and restaurants to boost their revenue through alternative sources."

There's also Lulu app. It directs tourists to the nearest available bathroom in participating restaurants and bars. Users pay a fee that'll vary between 99 cents and five dollars. The bars and restaurants get 65 percent of the fee.

Bagbnb finds places for tourists to leave their luggage. It splits the six-dollar fee with its clients. Hospitality expert Andrew Rigie says technology is helping many establishments stay afloat.

ANDREW RIGIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NYC HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE "New York City is an extremely competitive and an extremely expensive place to run a business. So, you really need to make sure that you're running efficiently and you're generating additional revenue."

With rising costs for food, rent and labor, Rigie says he expects more restaurants to harness mobile technologies to become multi-use spaces. Karina Huber, CGTN, New York.