The title of this post is a quote from the NY Times article Sorry, Power-Lunchers. This Restaurant Is a Co-Working Space Now.
The article covers Spacious, a startup that transforms unused space - especially restaurants outside of meal times - into shared workspaces. Key quote:
"Everything is now a co-working space, one of those shared offices that are popular among freelancers, small companies and other workers who want a change of scenery. Coffee shops are co-working spaces. Gyms are co-working spaces. Social clubs are co-working spaces. And now restaurants — but only before dinnertime."
This is another example of shared workspaces expanding into a wide range of specialized niches.
We've long covered this trend, with our most favorite recent example being a combo coworking space and spa in Kansas City.
Allwork's GENERALISATION WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE”: THE CASE FOR NICHE WORKSPACES also covers this trend and points out a variety of specialist shared workspaces. Key quote:
"With hundreds of new spaces opening every month, independent operators are urged to “focus on a particular customer segment”
Interestingly, drop by workspaces such as restaurants don't meet our definition of a coworking space.
This is because they don't offer activities and facilitation that encourage networking and community.
But they are still very useful places to work that also reduce social isolation and loneliness. And while these spaces may not provide support for networking, it still happens naturally.
So while they don't meet our definition of coworking, they are valuable additions to the shared workspace industry.
The trends driving the growth of niche and specialized workspaces - technology enabling distributed work, more people working outside of traditional offices, the blending of work and life, etc. - continue to strengthen.
Which means more spaces will become shared workspaces.
Comments