Evan and Jordan August are redeveloping the Continental Gin Building in Deep Ellum. Photography courtesy of Dala Communications.
A 133-year-old building once used as a manufacturing plant for cotton gin equipment opened as a creative co-working and retail space this week in Deep Ellum.
Old East Dallas neighbor Jordan August and his brother spent two years restoring the Continental Gin Building at 3309 Elm St. through their real estate development firm, August Real Estate Co. The 70,000-square-foot building, which previously housed artist lofts, now features office suites of various sizes, co-working areas, on-site coffee and restaurant space.
The exterior of the building was stripped down to its original red brick. Inside, 14-foot ceilings with original exposed wood beams and hardwood floors showcase the building’s structural elements. The original freight elevator was converted into a commemorative stairwell, and each of the 12 conference rooms pays tribute to the former artist studios with different art themes, such as pottery, sculpture, photography and cartography.
“The Continental Gin Building is one of the oldest buildings in Dallas and was once the epicenter of innovation in Deep Ellum,” August said in a statement. “The goal of this next chapter was to go beyond just office space to be more of a hospitality-focused, mixed-use destination that will once again function as a hub of innovation for the entire community. Our hope is that anyone who walks through the Continental Gin Building can feel the soul of this historical Deep Ellum icon.”
Old East Dallas coffee shop Fiction Coffee is located in the lobby. The shop, which debuted in 2017 on Hall Street, will serve its full menu of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as light bites and cocktails during happy hour, that can be enjoyed inside or on a wrap-around patio.
“We have always had the intention of opening a full-fledged Fiction in one of our Common Desk locations. That dream is finally a reality,” said Spencer Fox, director of coffee at Fiction and Common Desk. “This is our largest Fiction endeavor yet, and we cannot wait to create a new community here with the neighborhood.”
The second floor is home to co-working company Common Desk, and the third floor features nine office suites.
The building incorporates many upgraded health and safety measures, including hospital-grade air filtration, UV light systems, touchless fixtures in restrooms and anti-microbial surfaces. It was also crafted to accommodate lifestyle changes from the work-from-home era. The Continental Gin Building is dog friendly across all floors and has showers included in the restrooms for tenants who walk or bike to the office from the nearby Santa Fe Trail.
