Makerhaus founders Ellie and Mike Kemery
Makerhaus founders Ellie and Mike Kemery

Makerhaus, a 10,000 square foot space in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood that caters to electronics, 3D printing, CAD design and other geek enthusiasts, is closing its doors on Sept. 16th just 18 months after opening.

MakerHaus42“It has truly been an amazing journey and the impact that Makerhaus has had will continue to be felt for years to come,” said co-founder Ellie Kemery in an email to GeekWire.

When the facility opened in February 2013, we dubbed it a geek paradise because of the various activities offered. But Kemery said that they just could not attract the membership base to sustain the operation, a unique space where creative types were encouraged to “invent, prototype and explore without boundaries.”

“We still believe in the makers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who have come to visit us over the past eighteen months,” the Kemery’s write in a note to members. “Some came by for a day, MakerHaus22some have stayed with us for over a year. Many built new personal and business relationships resulting in Kickstarter campaigns, jobs, new found awareness for their skills & services, and the incubation of their own companies. We are glad to have been able to help others bridge the gap in their lives and realize their dreams.”

Mike Kemery said that they amassed hundreds of members over the past 18 months, with dues ranging from $200 to $500 per month. It is unclear what the landlord plans to do with the space once they leave.

Here’s a tour of the space we took when it first opened.


And here’s the full note that founders Mike and Ellie Kemery sent out earlier today:

Dear Makerhaus members, students, educators, and creative community,

Over the last eighteen months you have helped cultivate an amazing HAUS of learning, making, and connection by attending events, classes, workshops, joining our membership programs, and supporting us through social media and word of mouth. Our goal to empower creative minds and make a meaningful contribution to our community would not have been possible without your involvement and interest. We sincerely thank you for your support.

While there has been great love for our mission, customer demand has fallen short of what is needed to continue to run the business. That said, it is with extreme regret that we are announcing Makerhaus will be closing its doors on September 16th.

Makerhaus has been home to some amazingly talented people. Many of which have directly contributed their time to building the space and cultivating a uniquely creative culture. Without their shared belief in our mission and passion for our goals none of this would have been possible. We are also extremely grateful and fortunate to have been backed by a team of forward thinkers who believe in our mission and shared our vision of helping our society move ahead.

We still believe in the makers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who have come to visit us over the past eighteen months. Some came by for a day, some have stayed with us for over a year. Many built new personal and business relationships resulting in Kickstarter campaigns, jobs, new found awareness for their skills & services, and the incubation of their own companies. We are glad to have been able to help others bridge the gap in their lives and realize their dreams.

Our immediate goal is to ensure our members and stakeholders are properly taken care of during this transition. We will continue to operate under our regular business hours during our final days. If you have any questions please contact us at info@makerhaus.com and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you again for an amazing experience. We which you all the very best!

Sincerely,

Mike & Ellie Kemery
Makerhaus

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