About 7,000 people live in the town of Hudson, right on the river and two hours north of New York City. At the top of town, the freight train often whistles as it slides right down the middle of the street. At the bottom of town, in the middle of the river, the lighthouse’s foghorn calls out as barges fight the current. In the middle of town, 25 Etsy Admin tap on their keyboards. It’s calm and peaceful, barring the occasional office dog eruption.
Etsy’s Hudson annex is in one of the town’s many 1800s brick warehouses left over from the industrial days. Like our building, many old structures in town have been reborn. But I often imagine the sweat and noise that happened here decades ago, when this was a factory churning out lumber, doors and windows for area houses.

Drawing of Traver & Sons from an article in the Hudson Gazette, November 26, 1885.
A dramatic 1871 newspaper article describes entering our office when it was Traver & Sons’ mill: “The ears are greeted by a noise of sawing, buzzing and snapping, as if pandemonium had sent her most infernal orchestra to welcome the visitor to her chosen abode.”
Connecting this past with the present, Etsy Admin Jake found Traver & Sons’ stamp on old wainscoting as he was renovating his house. Folks working here now are living in homes that were made, at least in part, by those buzzing saws.

JonPaul Douglass
Jake and I present Traver & Sons wainscoting from his home.
Even though our work is mostly on computers, we feel we’re carrying on the tradition. This is industry-hallowed ground, and we help thousands of Etsy sellers run their own industries. If you contact Etsy Support, it’s likely the satellites bounce your message to Hudson and back.

JonPaul Douglass
Of course, Etsy’s headquarters are in Brooklyn, NY, and one might think, “Why would a tech company open an office in a little town?” But if you know about the town, it’s an obvious fit.
Laid out by Nantucket whalers, this was a bustling seaport for many years. The town the whalers built for us is still very much here, in the architecture and in the air.
Artists have long found inspiration in the grandeur of the river valley and the neighboring Catskill Mountains. Several famed Hudson River School painters lived in and around town — Thomas Cole, Frederick Church and Sanford Gifford to name a few.
Like most American towns that were based around manufacturing, Hudson declined in the 20th century as industry dried up or went elsewhere. Nevertheless, the spirit has remained and brought about a steady rebirth, owing much to natural beauty and proximity to New York City, as well as the foresight and risks of a few who bought and restored buildings here in the past few decades.
The town is once again full of creative types. It seems like everyone you talk to makes something. The Albany Business Review says Hudson has the highest self-employment rate in New York state. The ingenuity, the artfulness, the respect for craft, and the quirkiness in Hudson are what drew Etsy here.
Also, having a space in a small town means that we can interact with the community in a different way than in a big city, and Hudson has many communities. In a year and a half, we’ve volunteered with the Hudson Black Arts & Cultural Festival, marched in the town’s Pride parade, hosted and attended local craft fairs, and opened our doors for craft nights in conjunction with the library. As in the Brooklyn headquarters, where the office compost goes to a Brooklyn farm, our compost goes to a community garden right down the block.

JonPaul Douglass
Plants adorn the kitchen island, and our compost bin with compostable bags is to the left.
Our desks are made in a woodshop a few doors down by Rob Williams, Jr., who runs GrainWoodwork on Etsy. We’ve bought most of our furniture from shops in Hudson or from local Etsy sellers, like Idaseyeantiques. An artist who lives across the street created a mural and sound installation for us.

JonPaul Douglass
Most Hudson Admin are from the area, or have at least lived here a long time, so we’re just continuing being part of our community. What a special place to call home.

JonPaul Douglass
Are you in our neck of the woods? Come say hi at the Hudson River Exchange, a local handmade and vintage market in town July 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.!
98 comments
kayln rock from kaylnshop said 7 years ago
ooo lala!
Wynne Renz from wynnerenz said 7 years ago
Love this! Go Hudson!
Sarah A. from SarahsHammer said 7 years ago
I love you Hudson! xoxo
Kim Konen from RegularKim said 7 years ago
Most peaceful office space ever. Awesome read!
Camilla G from NoemiNico said 7 years ago
That drawing from 1885 is awesome! We should screen print it and make some posters or something! Great article too :)
Kaitlin from OtterCat02 said 7 years ago
Yay Hudson!!! Love you guys :)
Katie Hunt-Morr said 7 years ago
A beautiful space with a beautiful history!
Katie Hunt-Morr said 7 years ago
A beautiful space with a beautiful history. Love it!
Daithi Mac Mealoid said 7 years ago
Woo Hoo Hudson! Big props to you Stephen....awesome article! Mucho respect Hudson....from our office in Dublin to yours :)
Karen Brown from blainedesign said 7 years ago
Sounds like Heaven.
Pete Bellisano from pbellisano said 7 years ago
Awesome!
Chris Jee from yonderlab said 7 years ago
Lovely article :) Looking forward to making it back some time soon!
Jennifer Juniper from PoleStar said 7 years ago
It must be so awesome to go into such an awesome space with people who love Etsy so much every day! Converted old buildings and factories are my dream home/offices. Hudson sounds like an awesome place to live just from the little I've heard about it. Gorgeous office, friends!
Lisa Steiner from ElainaLouiseStudios said 7 years ago
Great story! It sounds like a beautiful location.
Ingrid Maria Meijer from IngridVanZon said 7 years ago
Nice! Love the desks!
Francesca Ormezzano from LittleItalyinDublin said 7 years ago
Oh Wowww!!! I'd love to visit you! and you should come to Dublin! :)
Katie Rose Crosswhite said 7 years ago
Beautiful place full of amazing people! Thanks for the great article, Stephen!!
Peter Mack from PeterMackArt said 7 years ago
Nice!
Amy from AmysHere said 7 years ago
I'm so proud to call this creative space, home. Excellent article, Stephen!
Alpaca Yarn from AlpacaPeru said 7 years ago
Thank You Etsy for the opportunity to introduce our passion ,natural fibers, to all of You. I wish all of You a best of luck!!
Eileen from bluebirdluxe said 7 years ago
I love seeing creative spaces and where people work and this is fantastic! Thank you for giving us an inside look! The mill looks happy with all the creative engery buzzing around! Truly awesome! :)
Alexandra Ritchie from byloomandhyde said 7 years ago
Love having a little peek into your world!! It's such a strange existence we have - interacting so closely across seas and oceans and yet virtually (here's the irony) knowing nothing at all about each other - I would love to meet you all!! Thankyou for sharing this :)
Scott from vinylclockwork said 7 years ago
Looks Cool
Joanna Szkiela from redsofa said 7 years ago
:) :) :)
Joanna Szkiela from redsofa said 7 years ago
Sweet!
Donna and Darrell Knish from BlackForestCottage said 7 years ago
I just love your space and the building. I want to be one of the etsy dogs and just laze around on those old floors, very nice.
worksofwhimsy from worksofwhimsy said 7 years ago
Beautiful space, but I thought the original plan was for that to be an Etsy call center. Plans changed, I guess.
Nancy Campbell from SoulRole said 7 years ago
Fantastic space!Love the history and roots!
Tammy Haas from SpiralsandSpice said 7 years ago
Love the Hudson office space! Looks like an amazing space to work!
Tammy Haas from SpiralsandSpice said 7 years ago
Love the Hudson office space! Looks like a amazing place to work!
Mandy Osipchuk from antique4unique said 7 years ago
This is such a beautiful building! Very tasteful reno!
Suyeon Min from MKribboncrafts said 7 years ago
very nice space!!!
Suyeon Min from MKribboncrafts said 7 years ago
nice!!!
Emily from Nothingbutstring said 7 years ago
Amazing digs, and it's so cool that you can take your dogs to work with you.
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 7 years ago
I love it! What a great place to work...The environment has to make for a pleasant work environment....
Gary Schere from passionatevision said 7 years ago
awesome place I must visit sometime to see where Frank Church painted so many classic paintings.
suruchi nirkhe from suruchinirkhe said 7 years ago
love for the place, love for the people and love for work
Cindy Carrillo from SimpleChaosLab said 7 years ago
I really like when you show where you all work. It makes Etsy more real, I enjoy seeing the workspaces as well. Give me ideas and I enjoy being part of this whole community. I hope to visit Hudson one day.
Diane from BorgmannsCreations said 7 years ago
I kike the office space. Sounds like a gate place to live.
Madi from OnceUponAGem said 7 years ago
Love this article!
Tammy Durant from TwigAndPebbleJewelry said 7 years ago
That's so cool! I was born in Hudson, NY... 39 years ago. I currently live in Rhinebeck, NY where I grew up. It is exciting to know that Hudson is being reborn & thriving in many positive ways. Also an Etsy seller, it is exciting knowing one of the offices is up there. Not too far from me. :)
Wendy from StuckTogetherMagnets said 7 years ago
Love! Must be an amazing place to live and work. Well done, Etsy!
Sara StudioTAC from StudioTAC said 7 years ago
Cool office !
Vicky Brown from ThisisLullaby said 7 years ago
Love that office, especially the gorgeous floor
Hristo Hvoynev from ExiArtsConceptWorlds said 7 years ago
this is so amazing! You have choosen the perfect building and you work in such cozy environment there.I like the dogs!!! I LOVE YOU ETSY! You are great people!
Maria from CarambasVintage said 7 years ago
Nice to see your working environment!
Emiliana Patriotou from CushionsandMore said 7 years ago
Excellent choice of a building! Such identity!
Jen from PACIFICNWGLASS said 7 years ago
nice history in those bricks
Bobbie Church from SiennaChic said 7 years ago
Beautiful work space x
Katrina Balling from ballandchain said 7 years ago
Wow, great building! Now I have etsy above & below me :) Can't make July 20th, but would love to drive up from Dobbs Ferry, Hudson sounds great!
Aristocrafts from Aristocrafts said 7 years ago
Your work space looks so great and I love the history behind the building! Etsy could not have picked a better place for their offices. It's nice to imagine how just a few weeks ago when I contacted Etsy Support, the kind answer that I received came from inside this character-filled building.
Julian Newman from JulianNewmanArtist said 7 years ago
Great to see you guys set up in and support small towns, they are the life blood of any nation.
Albane L. from PHOTOFORWALL said 7 years ago
Enjoy to see your own space !! i love it !! i would be work with you !!!!! Enjoy your day :))
Olivier and Artemisa from LarimarAndSilver said 7 years ago
Perfect place. :-)
Terri from Untwistedsister said 7 years ago
That area is gorgeous and how special to be able to work in such a historic building. I grew up about an hour south of there. Cold Spring is another little artsy town not too far from Hudson.
Silvia from MarinaBosettiDesigns said 7 years ago
What an exciting location, full of history and charme! Nice!
Villa Collezione from VillaCollezione said 7 years ago
cool!
Michael Needleman said 7 years ago
The history up in that area is so rich, preservation efforts like this are fantastic.
Janine from MomsantiquesNthings said 7 years ago
Amazing, workplace,just gorgeous! Although I live in NY, I have yet to visit the Hudson Valley. Such great history there, I'll just have to make the long trek one of these weekends!
KitKatCabaret from KitKatCabaret said 7 years ago
wonderful creative environment, love the wood desks, the woodland scene deer mural, great inspiration from office dog with bright eyes and wagging tails in the am
Tammy Liu-Haller from StoryTree said 7 years ago
You are right across the river from my little town of Greenville...and I never knew!!
Marian Raft from LoveArtPhotoCrafts said 7 years ago
What a wonderful place to work. I really have to visit this town one day.
annieknits7 said 7 years ago
Wow! I want to live and work here!
Jennifer from NaturesBountySupply said 7 years ago
What a great space! So much character and charm!
Matilde Cánepa González from matildecanepaArtnow said 7 years ago
great space, wise choice! that energy!
Simone Secci said 7 years ago
Nice!
Osman Canavar from CAPPODOCIARUG said 7 years ago
Cool office, it must be nice to work in this office ..
Jeanine H said 7 years ago
Amazing such a perfect fit for an etsy admin crew;) I love this and look forward to sharing it on my blog! ;)
Jeanette from My3LadiesJewelry said 7 years ago
Love seeing the history..Really love the building.. Great to see the Admin we are talking with...
kim sheridan-dugmore from theQuietWoods said 7 years ago
Can't wait to meet you guys ar the Hudson River exchange fair!
Patti Turon from ADKArtsBoutique said 7 years ago
I live in the Lake George and Saratoga apringa area. Not too far from Hudson. The area that you are is beautiful. I live in what once was an old barn so I have a great love for old buildings.
Christina from TheWildPlum said 7 years ago
Fun!
SIMONA AL NSEIR from Hyndussidstudio said 7 years ago
Industrial building and amazing place bravooooooooo
SIMONA AL NSEIR from Hyndussidstudio said 7 years ago
Amazing place building is exlusive
Liz Hutnick from LizHutnick said 7 years ago
Looks like a great place to work and play.
emberair from EmberandAir said 7 years ago
So happy to see Hudson up here! My husband went to school not far from Hudson, it was always a place I loved visiting :)
Jennifer Frew from 2BusyBumbleBeads said 7 years ago
Awesome, we love the story! Family is important and looks like ya'll are one bg family!!
Heatherlee Chan from ladypoppins said 7 years ago
What an awesome space to work!
Catia from ALittleWorld said 7 years ago
What a great space! A building like this in a little town? Just perfect!
Kathy Krusinski from ZasuVintage said 7 years ago
What an Etsy World it could be!
Melissa Mika from PAGEFIFTYFIVE said 7 years ago
Amazing!
Kathleen Virtue from LittleWormAndCompany said 7 years ago
Awesome reuse of an old building.... I love that building recycling. It is so inspiring to be in a space with a history and now a bright future.
Jeanne B from PruAtelier said 7 years ago
Great reuse of space! Must get over there sometime!
Manju G from JaipurHandloom said 7 years ago
adventurous..I would love to go there and have fun.
Carol Endicott from carolendicott said 7 years ago
great use of a wonderful space. congrats on your vision.
ruchi from ComfyClothing said 7 years ago
Its SO GORGEOUS!! Would love to visit it some day!!
Ann Reilly from artzstuf said 7 years ago
been to Hudson and heard was an etsy office there but never saw it when strolled along warren st. sadly.
Anemone from AnemoneReadsVintage said 7 years ago
that is an extremely cool building!!
Jean Strong said 7 years ago
I'm interested in moving to Hudson and working at Etsy. (I'm in Brooklyn now but I love the little town of Hudson.) Is there someone I can speak to there?
Snap Couture Photography from SnapCouturePhoto said 6 years ago
such beautiful building, definitely visiting next time I'm in Hudson!
drl222 said 6 years ago
Hi...I would love to come down, can you send me a address?
PINKYS from PINKYSOFSARATOGA said 6 years ago
Hi- we're neighbors and need your help!! E-mails sent to Etsy for help are not being responded to. Our translation option is not working We do a high volume of International sales and now we're losing sales do to this problem. Reaching out wherever we can. Please advise or notify the folks in Brooklyn of our problem. Thanks for all in advance ….love your headquarters ..Pinky
Brian and Tracy McKearney from SnowDogQuiltWoodwork said 6 years ago
Really neat to see your office space! Very Cool!
Jessica Frost said 6 years ago
How do I go about reporting a shop for theft?
bobbi jo forte said 6 years ago
We have a retail boutique (featuring many Etsy Wholesale Products) in Red Hook NY 12571 which has a beautiful brick space looking to be filled with ETSY type purveyors. How does one reach out to the Etsy team to discuss this opportunity? www.livingeden.com 29 West Market Street Red Hook NY 12571 845-475-2619
Mellita from MellitaFolkArt said 5 years ago
Thank you for being here, in the Hudson River Valley. Will visit soon, Love and Joy, Mellita
Joseph Penello from McLownHorn said 5 years ago
This Is not the hudson I know, but thank you, because of people and business like this the city has a chance
Ashley M from RetroBabyBoutiqueco said 4 years ago
Are you open Saturday's? And if so what times?