Entrepreneurs have a dilemma when it comes to meeting clients. Peoria does have alternatives to meeting clients in your living room. Often referred to as officing, there is even a magazine devoted to officing alternatives.

A good officing space features comfortable seating. Privacy is nice, but not always required. The key essentials are power outlets for recharging cellphone and laptop batteries and for using an LCD projector. Wi-Fi is a top priority for most officing situations.

Beverages and edibles are a bonus. But, those who office do need to remember that they are customers, and not guests.

Wi-Fi and Privacy

Eysal’s Coffee Roasters

Cross the river to East Peoria and you’ll discover Eysal’s Coffee Roasters, still a well-kept secret. Their Wall of Hands is a brightly lit garden room where owners Fred and Judy Kraus invite visitors to trace their hand on the wall and decorate it. The owners even provide the drawing markers.

The Wall of Hands leads from the main restaurant area to the Eyslation Room. Hands down, this is the absolute best place around for officing if you have a group of up to ten people. The Eysalation Room has a large round table, free Wi-Fi and several power outlets for laptops or an LCD projector.

It is large enough to teach a small workshop or to brainstorm. During daytime hours, the Eysalation Room is available for group meetings at no charge.

The beverages and edibles are great and the owners are easy to work with. Call 699-2977 to reserve the room for two-hour increments during regular business hours, at no charge.

They are open from 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday. Eysal’s is located 400 E. Washington St. in East Peoria.

Copper River

The former Kade's Coffee Company Inc. will probably always be known by locals as Kade’s. It has changed hands and is now Copper River Coffee & Tea.

Their Copper Room has seating for 20 or so. There is a $10 charge to reserve the entire room. When not reserved, the room is available at no cost and does include free Wi-Fi. Just about any time of day, you will find customers online with their laptops at Copper River at 2535 W War Memorial Drive in Peoria.

Apple's Bakery

Apple’s Bakery is a favorite, if you want the best baked goods around, and more. They invite groups to meet in their space.

They are open 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and 6 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays. Located at 8412 N. Knoxville, Apple’s has free Wi-Fi and groups are welcome.

Less Privacy But Still Great

Panache

For a bit more privacy, but without walls, consider Panache. They do have a large meeting table toward the rear of the restaurant, out of the flow of traffic.

Panache has free Wi-Fi and a full menu, including bottled beer. It is a popular place for one-on-one meetings. Tuesday and Thursday nights feature jazz, so do not plan on getting much work done then.
Located at 4203 N. Sheridan Road, they open at 6:30 am during the week and 8:10 am on weekends.

Panera Bread

There are several Panera’s in the Peoria metro area and they are perhaps one of the most popular places for officing. Any given day you'll see individuals and groups of all sizes officing at each location.

You can count on Panera’s for free Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets. There are quite a few tables for four, but no private rooms.

Panera’s tend to be quite busy at times and even a bit loud. In warm weather, opt for the outdoor patio area until your laptop battery needs recharging. The Wi-Fi signal is still strong and even the passing traffic can be quieter than the indoor mix of music and lively conversation.

You will find Panera’s in East Peoria at 815 W. Camp Street and in Peoria at 2601 W. Lake Avenue and 1101 W. Bird Boulevard.

Starbuck’s

There are five Starbuck’s in Peoria with free Wi-Fi. Search the Starbuck’s website for a location and hours.

Again, opt for the patio in warm weather. The music in the Starbuck’s at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie complex tends to be a bit loud and less than conducive for conversation. The patio at that Starbuck’s is very pleasant for summer interviews, with lovely umbrellas and a view of Grand Prairie. Anticipate that friends going through the drive-thru are apt to shout conversations to you or your associates during your meeting.

Barnes & Noble

The lack of power outlets limits officing opportunities at B&N to the lifespan of a single battery charge. The Peoria B&N provides only a one power outlet, but the Wi-Fi is strong.

It is great to have all those current books and magazines at your disposal but please do not forget that it is a bookstore. It is not a library. (Overheard at B&N when a little girl wanted to keep the book she was holding, her mother said, “We don’t buy books!”)

The children’s area is located at the other end of the store, and the café is fairly quiet. B&N opens at 9 a.m. every day.

Borders

Located in the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, Borders has a small café with free Wi-Fi. Be aware that the café is near the children’s area. It can be a little noisy.

They also have a nice patio area for quieter officing. The Wi-Fi signal is strong enough for outdoor connectivity.

Since it is a mall location, Borders is not an option for early birds. The store does not open until 10 a.m. and on Sunday it does not open until 11 a.m.

Leaves and Beans Roasting Company & Specialty Cafe

A locally owned coffee shop with a long history in Peoria Heights is Leaves N Beans. The store has changed hands but the new owner encourages officing and group events. LnB has been the longstanding meeting place for a small writers’ group.

The charm of the renovated house with its legendary ghost who randomly opens the front door is unsurpassed. They really do roast their own coffee and you are likely to be drinking LnB coffee at other shops around town.

Ask staff for the free Wi-Fi password. There are a sufficient number of outlets and it is a very comfortable place to office.

In warmer weather, you can meet on the front porch. More recently, they have added a patio area that is a great alternative during less frigid times of year.

Keep in mind that it is a coffee shop. The coffee grinding, espresso machine hissing, and blender whirring is not conducive to meetings even though they do have the space for small gatherings.

Located at 4800 N Prospect Road, LnB is open at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday. They sometimes have evening entertainment. Watch Facebook for scheduled events when officing might not be the thing to do.

One World Eats and Drink

Great for one-on-one meetings or gatherings of up to 35 people, One World is a vibrant locally owned coffee shop with free Wi-Fi. The décor is great and so is the menu.

One World caters to early risers, opening at 7 a.m. during the week and 8 a.m. on weekends. Close to the Bradley University campus and the Peoria Next Innovation Center, at the corner of Main and University.

Runners Up

Childers Eatery

Childers Eatery has free Wi-Fi and lots of space. Even when they pull tables together banquet-style at the drop of a hat to accommodate groups, there is still plenty of table space.

It does tend to be a bit loud at times, just because it has that neighborhood restaurant feel. But the tables are large and it is a good place to meet. Childers is located at 3312 N University.

Peoria Public Library

If you just need to brainstorm, the Peoria Public Library is an option. The downtown branch is practically devoid of parking during construction, but the Wi-Fi signal is fine. Power outlets are plentiful. Patrons can use the library computers for free.

The Lakeview Branch is a better option and you will find many small business resources on the shelves, in addition to Wi-Fi. There is also plenty of parking.

If you need resources from downtown, ask the library to transfer materials to Lakeview branch (except for non-circulating materials). They will call you when the materials are available at Lakeview.

If you are not charging for a meeting, but just doing research, Lakeview does have meeting rooms available. The downtown branch is no longer booking meeting rooms until 2011.

If you need to access to market research during a brainstorming session, reserve a room. For a $10 fee, you can even have coffee available. Whiteboards or chalkboards, tables and chairs, and podiums are included, with all meeting room reservations.

Lakeview Branch is open from 10 a.m. at 1137 West Lake Avenue. The hours change during summer, so check their website for details.

Hardee’s

Most Hardee’s do not have Wi-Fi but they do have private meeting rooms. The room is available on a first come, first served basis but there is no charge and you can even close the door.

The tables are large and there is room for a dozen or more people in most Hardee’s meeting rooms.

Leonardo’s Pizza

There is no Wi-Fi, but Leonardo’s has a great backroom for afternoon or evening meetings of up to maybe 20 people, at no charge. It's private and you know the food is going to be good.

For larger groups, it is best to reserve the room. But, when it is not reserved, they allow smaller groups as small as two or three people use it. Order at the counter, and they’ll deliver food to the backroom.

Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream

The party room at Emack & Bolio’s, in Peoria Heights, is more commonly used for children’s parties. But business groups have discovered it as a good place for meetings in the Heights. It is quiet and you can have all the smoothies and ice cream you can order up. They do have coffee on the menu.

The room rental is $25 and there is no Wi-Fi. In warmer weather, the patio is also available, at no cost.

Officing in Peoria takes on many faces. Whether you need Wi-Fi or not, you'll find a wide selection of options.