Toni Bowles spent nearly 20 years with the Santa Clara County Superior Court, working in a division that was tasked with applying for various grants.

Bowles, who describes herself as a “people person” with a passion for social welfare reform, began noticing the job was becoming more about paperwork and less about interacting with others.

The commute from her home in Hollister to downtown San Jose was one thing. But she found it nearly impossible to achieve a work-life balance with the position while raising a family.

An avid reader, Bowles came across an article on a female-focused co-working space in New York called The Wing. The concept intrigued her, and she began researching the industry when she came across another similar space in Mill Valley called The Hivery.

A visit was a moving experience, to say the least.

“I could feel inspired just walking through the doors,” she said. “Something inside of me was telling me, these folks are onto something.”

Fast forward a few years later, Bowles has left her job in the court and is preparing for the grand opening of her own female-focused co-working space in the heart of downtown Gilroy: The Neon Exchange.

Located at 7363-7371 Monterey St. in the historic Louis Hotel, Neon Exchange provides various workstations and desks that are available on a membership basis. The sizable first floor includes a conference room, full kitchenette, library and many other amenities open to members. After work hours, and on weekends, the space will be available for special events.

The second floor, which Bowles expects will be open in March, will feature 20 fully-enclosed office spaces for rent.

Bowles said she has already heard from various working professionals, such as tutors, realtors and mortgage brokers, about using the first-floor space. In addition, Gallery 1202 has moved from its previous Fifth Street location into Neon Exchange.

She is quick to note that while the center is female-focused, it’s not female-exclusive. The focus is more on the aesthetics and programming of the space, which has more of a feminine vibe, she said.

“My intent is to take it down to a community-based level, so it feels inclusive for everyone,” she said.

Bringing life to a landmark

The Louis Hotel, according to Gilroy’s Historic Resources Inventory, opened on Sept. 10, 1921. The hotel, which was a popular stopping place for Highway 101 travelers, was designed by the Binder and Curtis architectural firm in the neoclassic commercial style.

It was later converted into a restaurant, offices and retail stores.

But for the greater part of the last decade, the hotel has sat vacant as various businesses and special events have come and gone. As a result of years of neglect, the building was in a sad shape when Bowles purchased it at the end of 2018.

When Bowles was searching for a spot to house her concept, she began negotiating for a space in downtown Morgan Hill.

It was during this time that Bowles would drive daily through downtown Gilroy on the way home from picking up her children from school. On one trip, the facade of the Louis Hotel caught her eye. Even better, she noticed a sign on the window from Renz & Renz Real Estate Brokerage announcing that the building was available.

“It inspired me to pick up the phone, and I called for a tour,” Bowles said.

Before the tour, she said Christian Renz of the brokerage warned her that the building was in rough condition, but she didn’t let that deter her.

“As I walked the layout of the building, I could envision the color, I could envision the workstations,” Bowles said. “I could already see it happening. I was like, this is it. This is where it needs to be.”

The Morgan Hill deal fell through, but Bowles immediately began negotiating for the Louis Hotel.

After nearly a year of work, the hotel has been transformed. New stucco lines the walls, while the original wood flooring has been refinished. Gold accents can be found throughout the space, harkening back to the 1920s, and various art and other decorations complete the look.

“We wanted to make a conscious effort to preserve the building, but bring it to the 21st century,” she said.

It wasn’t an easy process.

“I can’t even believe that we are going to open our doors,” she said. “It was a painstaking responsibility to make this building right again.

“I am lucky to have a tight unit of family around me who carried me through, saying ‘you can do this,’ who believed in me and helped me when I needed help.”

The Neon Exchange, 7365-7371 Monterey St. in Gilroy, is holding a grand opening gala on Oct. 27 from 1-4 p.m. Free tickets are available at facebook.com/neonexchange and Eventbrite. For information, visit theneonexchange.com.