The Grove started out of a desire to resource people as they pursued their dreams and find new ways to solve complex social problems. Upon finding the coworking model, Ken and Slate, realized this was the way to bring a diverse group of individuals together, provide them with the social and physical resources they needed, and cultivate a culture of collaborative work with a social mission.
The Grove lived as a dream in the hearts of Ken and Slate for over a year. In the late summer of 2010 The Grove got its break to create a storefront location in the 9th Square of Downtown New Haven through the pilot of Project Storefronts. In September of 2010 The Grove moved into 1,400 sqft of storefront space at 71 Orange St. and opened its doors. After opening The Grove quickly gained a diverse membership. Programing and weekly events were added to spark and inspire new ideas. After 6 months The Grove had grown to a membership of over 30 individuals working, creating, collaborating, and connecting in the space. At this point it was time to expand. The Grove secured 4,000 sqft adjacent to their original space and began renovations. Through generous contributions from various individuals and Grove Members as well as grant funding from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven The Grove completed their new space. In August of 2011, just one year after opening, they moved into their newly remodeled space which included more coworking space, added meeting rooms, and a select number of private offices.