Cornerstone Studios: a NEW event & work space

Jody Winter created Cornerstone Studios in 2018 as a solution for small business owners in the wedding & event space. Why? Because there is nothing else like it. With 6 years in the industry as a makeup artist turned florist, she knew about the frustrations of finding an affordable, dependable and flexible space to meet clients. Knowing that this was a common issue facing planners, photographers and others in her circle, the dream of Cornerstone was born. 

There are 110 years of small business history in our original space at 2220 Central NE. Originally a small grocery store called Johnson Grocery, this Red and White Chain store played an influential role in the Minneapolis business district. In the early 1900s, it offered wholesale pricing to local buyers so they were able to operate as a small grocer while competing with larger grocery chains on price. 

Immediately upon entering the space in January 2018, Jody noticed the tall 12 ft ceilings with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows lining the historic storefront. Underneath the drywall and worn carpet from a previous renovation were original wood floors and brick walls just waiting to be brought back to life. The energy in the space was just different, and we knew we had found an extraordinary family-owned space with a team that believed in our mission.

Jody renovated this space to continue that history in a refreshed way by offering a niche coworking option for wedding and event professionals. In the spirit of Johnson Grocery, Cornerstone Studios was created to offer members the benefits of a beautiful workspace at an affordable price point.

Since opening, Cornerstone has become a home to dozens of entrepreneurs. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the events industry especially hard, the days were bustling with activities from engagement photoshoots to makeup trials and beyond. The evenings and weekends were booked month after month with small events, photoshoots and workshops. Our coworking cohort was strong and event space was extremely well received. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the event industry understandably came to a standstill. Cornerstone was built by and for growing entrepreneurs and without events, many members found themselves no longer needing the space on a regular basis. 

HOWEVER we quickly realized that with State capacity limits, Cornerstone was the perfect solution for intimate events. Weddings, dinners and showers flowed in for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. 

We recently got notice that the corner unit of our building became vacant and is ready for a remodel & new opportunity. So, in the wildly entrepreneurial spirit that built Cornerstone we decided to take the plunge and fulfill our namesake by building it out specifically for intimate events. Our middle-unit expansion from 2018 is coming with us, and we will be back open, ready to support our beloved community, as we work towards bigger, bolder business growth in December 2020.

We decided to launch an iFundWomen campaign as an effort to crowdsource our business model for Cornerstone 2.0. While our new buildout is going to be made with the perfect intimate event layout in mind, our shared space for coworking will continue to grow and evolve. By partnering with Corner Coffee by building a coffee bar in the entryway, we hope to create a cozy environment featuring local pop ups and reservable pods for day to day workspace needs. Additionally, our open layout and customizable furniture options provide tons of flexibility when planning socially distanced meetings and group events. 

With working (and learning) from home being the model for the foreseeable future, we are excited to open our membership options to provide you true flexibility. Our punch pass will enable you to safely and dependably reserve space when you need it. Whether you have an important meeting that you don’t want the kids to interrupt, schedule an appointment that requires an in-person meeting or just want a change of scenery for the day, we got you. 

We put together some pretty cool rewards just as diverse as our capabilities at Cornerstone. Check them out, share the campaign with your friends and maybe even buy someone a little ‘thinking of you’ gift. 

Jody Winter