About Us

AT THE LINK IN OLD TOWN, our mission is to cultivate a dynamic and supportive community where creativity and productivity flourish. We are dedicated to fostering long-term connections through affordable coworking solutions that facilitate networking and collaboration. In the short term, we prioritize your well-being by offering resources and amenities designed to support your health and wellness throughout the workday. By balancing immediate wellness needs with a vision for enduring community engagement, we strive to create a workspace where you can thrive both professionally and personally - Additionally, our commitment extends beyond our walls as we actively engage with and contribute to the historical preservation and betterment of Old Town Alexandria. Through partnerships with local businesses and support for community events, we aim to be a driving force for positive change in our neighborhood, ensuring that our growth is intertwined with the welfare of the broader community we proudly call home.

Our Vision

To provide a supportive coworking space where productivity and connections flourish in the Old Town Alexandria community.

Our Mission

Our coworking space is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections, empowering networking opportunities, and enhancing productivity, all while inspiring our members to work with purpose and achieve their goals with the help of their community.

Historic 215 N Payne St. Through the Years

Early 20th Century Origins:
215 N Payne Street sits in Alexandria’s Parker-Gray Historic District, an area named after two African-American schools and formally recognized for its contributions to the city’s Black community. The surrounding neighborhood developed largely between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries as a working-class, residential, and light industrial district. The site was originally part of a patchwork of low-rise brick warehouses, industrial-use buildings, and commercial storefronts supporting the nearby rail corridor and port-related activity.

Mid to Late 20th Century – Light Industrial Use:
The property housed light industrial tenants for much of the mid-20th century. Uses ranged from warehousing to small-scale manufacturing and auto-related operations—typical for buildings in Alexandria’s inner industrial blocks during that period. Like many properties in the area, it retained a brick-and-concrete construction, with modest façade details.

1980s – Owned by NFL Player Dave Butz:
In the 1980s, the property was owned by Dave Butz, a standout defensive lineman for the Washington Redskins and two-time Super Bowl champion. While the building remained industrial in nature, Butz’s ownership is a notable piece of the building’s unusual personal and sports-related history.

Chek Soda Era – Production Facility:
Following Butz’s ownership, the building was used by Chek Soda, the store-brand soda line affiliated with Winn-Dixie, as a small-scale production and bottling plant. During this time, the space was a functional industrial site, complete with the mechanical systems and loading infrastructure typical of beverage manufacturing and distribution operations.

1990s–2010s – Transition & Adaptation:
As Alexandria continued to evolve, especially in and around the Braddock Metro corridor, the building gradually transitioned out of industrial use. Like many in the area, it was repurposed for small commercial tenants, including office users and creative businesses. The bones of the original structure were preserved but adapted for more modern needs.

2020s – The Link in Old Town:
Today, 215 N Payne is home to The Link in Old Town, a hybrid coworking and wellness space designed to serve a new generation of professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives. The building now includes private offices, open work areas, and a distinctive indoor/outdoor gym space, reflecting both its industrial past and its innovative present. Under current management, it has become a vibrant community hub that blends work, wellness, and connection—all while honoring the building’s unique and varied history.