When we moved to Manchester in 2010, we set up shop on Elm Street. We were in an old building above a pub, within walking distance to restaurants, bars, and plenty of other businesses. A few months after we moved in, we met with another business owner at their studio in the Manchester NH Millyard, and we were blown away. We called the building owners that day and set up an appointment to look at spaces. Even though we have since moved on from this space, we are still completely in love with the Millyard. Here are just a few reasons why we love it.
The day we moved into the Millyard.
The Location
The Manchester NH Millyard is 50 minutes to Boston, 50 minutes to the beach and a short walk to Elm Street. It was convenient for our clients to get there, and also convenient for us to go to them.
The History
These mills were built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. At its peak, Amoskeag was the largest textile manufacturer in the world. Our mill, The Waumbec, still has the original flooring where you can see the marks that the machines made so many years ago. Across the street from our agency is the Millyard Museum, run by the Manchester Historic Association. It’s incredibly unique to be able to work in a place that has so much interesting history.
What is now a long hallway with office spaces was once a big open space.
The Beauty
Buildings are no longer built the way the mills were hundreds of years ago. We have 14 foot ceilings and 11 foot windows, exposed brick on 2 of our 4 walls, and original hardwood floors. To fill this place with cubicles would be a tragedy, so we kept it as open as we could. Outside are tree lined streets with brick sidewalks and street lamps modeled as they would have looked in the 1800s. Even in the winter when the air hurts your face, you can’t help but gasp at how pretty it is here.
A winter shot taken from a warm place.
The River
The Merrimack River is right outside the office. It provides a nice breeze in the summer and a great view. It is also home to a good amount of wildlife. Sometimes my giant window reminded me of the glass they have in an aquarium, except instead of fish I saw birds. The big ones caught my eye no matter how engrossed I was in work, and the little ones will often perch on a free branch and sing to their friends.
A particularly beautiful fall day.
The Food and/or Drinks
As the millyard continues to attract businesses, there are many more options for eating and hanging out. Waterworks, in the Waumbec Mill serves breakfast and lunch, and is the perfect place for a coffee break, lunch meeting, or even an afternoon sweet treat. 900 Degrees is another one of our favorite spots for lunch. Their salads are fantastic and they have a beautiful deck. The Foundry is NH’s largest certified farm to table restaurant. The decor is absolutely stunning both inside and outside on the deck. It’s a perfect place to take clients for drinks or have a celebratory meal. The Common Man Roadside is the latest addition to the Millyard and is a great option for any meal. It has delicious food and if you can handle a little heat we recommend the Nashville hot chicken sandwich
Making the move to the millyard years ago was one of the best decisions we’ve made. We loved the little spot we made for ourselves in this historic city, and couldn’t wait to get to work each day.