When you walk into Dayhouse Coworking, the abundance of plants, soft natural lighting, photos of happy members, freshly brewed coffee, and warm greetings from manager Jessica Erickson create an immediate sense of belonging—like a home away from home.
Full disclosure: we’re Dayhouse members, but that’s not why we chose to run this article. We’re simply in awe of Dayhouse founder Jen Luby’s journey from mom blogger to full-scale entrepreneur, creating this welcoming space from scratch.
“My career has been more like a jungle gym than a ladder,” Luby says. “I left corporate America in 2006 and never looked back. I became a freelance food writer, ran a home and entertaining blog, and worked with PR firms on big events. One day in 2017, I was working at home while my three-year-old blared Peppa Pig in the other room and asked for something every 45 seconds. I thought, ‘There’s got to be another way to get work done.’”
Knowing she needed more than just a babysitter and a coffee shop, Luby started searching for a coworking space in the North Shore only to find spaces that had more of a corporate vibe—and definitely not as family-friendly. An entrepreneur at heart, “I said to myself, I’ll just open my own coworking space,” she says with a laugh.
After going down one rabbit hole after another, Luby found herself falling in love with the independent coworking industry after meeting more people online and at conferences. “There are really smart, kind and generous people in this industry,” she says. “We talked and shared ideas on Slack daily.”
Luby knew she wanted to find a space in or near Highland Park, where she lives. “I found this really cool former industrial building from the 1930s—it’s such a hidden gem that I didn't even know existed and would drive right past it all the time.”
Upon entering what feels like a secret building—set back in a nondescript parking lot on the north end of downtown Highland Park, you’d expect a smaller space. Dayhouse, however, spans two floors with two large conference rooms, rows of private offices, a shared work area on the first floor, and a quiet area with more desks, a couch and a small daybed for midday breaks. The Smallhouse room set off the kitchen has toys for kids, a private bathroom and a nursing room that caregivers can use. It’s also where members enjoy guided group meditation sessions once a month, and it’s used by a local psychologist for private therapy sessions.
While the space is beautiful, Luby insists Dayhouse is more about community. Many members are parents of young kids, sparking frequent discussions about school and town happenings. The membership, originally 60/40 women to men, is now evenly split and includes several women-owned businesses, remote professionals and entrepreneurs. Luby began building this network even before opening in 2019, hosting meetups at coffee shops and play areas. “Community is not just a buzzword for us—we really do learn about and support each other,” she says.
Rachel Runion, owner of TruHaven Homes and a founding member, can attest to this. “There is a strong feeling of coming home, of a team here,” she says. “We are all separate but equal and supportive of each other. The space is pretty but not pretentious and so are the people!”
The pandemic was tough—Dayhouse had just celebrated its first anniversary when Covid shutdowns hit. But the community rallied. “Most members voluntarily kept paying, and our landlord was understanding,” Luby recalls. “We did virtual work sessions, delivered chips and salsa to members’ doorsteps for Zoom happy hours, and dropped off holiday gifts until we could return.”
Now, business is booming. Luby and Erickson run monthly programming featuring takeout lunch days, happy hours, networking events, and workshops on topics ranging from small business coaching to eyebrow shaping. Erickson, an avid cook, often brings in homemade meals, sharing recipes with members.
“We really believe in the spirit of hospitality and that's embodied in the pineapple in our logo,” Erickson says. “Food is my love language, so I enjoy bringing in new foods and drinks to try all the time.”
Runion comments how Erickson is the “icing on the cake.” “She doesn’t just answer phones and process mail—she’s helpful, thoughtful and really pays attention to what we need, sometimes before we even know we need it.”
Dayhouse isn’t for everyone, Luby admits, but word-of-mouth keeps membership strong. So strong, in fact, that she’s expanding into a second location in downtown Schaumburg this year and planning an annex next to the Highland Park location for more private offices.
“My enthusiasm for Dayhouse and the coworking industry has only grown over the years,” she says. “I’m just as excited about what’s ahead as I was seven years ago.”
Community is not just a buzzword for us—we really do learn about and support each other.
There are really smart, kind and generous people in this industry. My enthusiasm for Dayhouse and the coworking industry has only grown over the years.