Every evening, as the sun goes down in Pune, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs come alive with music, mood lighting and people winding down—before the 8 pm deadline. But, what happens to these spaces during the day? Most are either empty or shut.
However, a few of them are taking on a new identity— they become co-working spaces for professionals whose offices are closed due to the pandemic and those who do not want to work from home. This line of co-working spaces, called Friyey, are located in Baner, Wakad and Kalyani Nagar and is the brainchild of Yogesh Thore, an engineer-cum-MBA.
“The majority of nightclubs, pubs and restaurants lie idle during the day, while hundreds of people, from medical representatives to bank salespersons, do not have their own offices to work out of. Friyey built a business model that matched this gap. We got into revenue-share agreement with these restaurants and clubs. Today, they have more earnings and branding while professionals, who need a space to work, have an affordable option. We are around 70 per cent full most weekdays,” says Thore.
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Friyey, which opened in May 2019, is adapting to a pandemic work culture where an increasing number of people are functioning remotely. “According to research, there will be one billion remote workers by 2035. This growing number of professionals will need vibrant and affordable working spaces,” he says, adding that Friyey will soon be branching into Bengaluru. “It is possible that the pandemic has done for co-working spaces what demonetisation did for wallets and other digital payment companies,” he says.
In 2016, Thore was working with a major MNC in Pune when he decided to quit and start “something of my own”. Raised on a diet of stories of Indian entrepreneurs who had created waves internationally, he wondered what kind of business he could start. “I asked myself, ‘What do I love doing?’ The answer was ‘hanging out with friends at nightclubs’. I told myself that this could not be a business model,” he says. Nonetheless, he took up work as a waiter at a restaurant to “learn that less-known side of the hospitality business” and then worked as a food delivery boy.
By mid 2017, Thore started an online business that sold discount coupons for various restaurants. “I had on board more than100 restaurants in Pune. I did not have an office of my own and used cafes most of the time, which turned out to be very expensive. The next time I went to a restaurant for a deal, I requested a manager to use the space for an hour to work. This became a habit until one manager said, “During the day, nobody comes to the restaurant”. That line hit me hard, and I thought, “I need to solve this problem for restaurants, who need businesses in the day and not evenings,’” he recalls, about the idea behind Friyey.
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Friyey spaces operate from 9 am to 6 pm and are equipped with Wi-fi connections, charging points, water bottles and a round of complimentary tea or coffee. “During that time, the restaurant or club operates as a co-working space only and people are free to bring their own tiffins. Food from the restaurant is not served in the workspace. What we are focusing on is building a community of Remote Workers who can come up with ideas that can plug gaps in the post-COVID economy,” says Thore.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
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