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Would You Pay to Cowork in a Bar?

Topics: Work Culture
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As the freelancer population has grown, so has the popularity of coworking spaces. These offices rent space to contractors by the day or longer, offering flexibility while providing the human companionship (and networking opportunities) that working at home full-time doesn’t.

For the most part, coworking spaces are like snazzy offices, decorated for maximum productivity and coolness and offering startup-like perks — kitchen access, coffee, candy, and so on. But now a few new businesses are offering coworking with a twist: workspace in bars and restaurants that would otherwise be closed during the day.

Per Bloomberg Technology:

Spacious is one of several new businesses with an unusual twist on co-working. The model of converting dining rooms or bars into shared offices is attractive to restaurant owners because it offers a new source of revenue during the work day, when their spaces are usually left dormant. It’s especially appealing to the food-service industry, which has seen its already-low margins squeezed. “Walking by a coffee shop and seeing everybody piled on top of each other, and seeing a beautiful empty restaurant next door—it just seemed to be a natural fit,” said Preston Pesek, co-founder and chief executive officer of Spacious.

What These Coworking Spaces Offer — and What They Don’t

If your interest in working in a restaurant or bar is inspired by their seasonal beer selection, you might want to rethink. Spacious uses high-end restaurants that are closed during the day. So while the view of the wine racks might be nice, you can’t sample while you’re working.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

On the other hand, there’s something to be said for working toward a reward. One NYC-based freelancer tells Bloomberg that she sticks around after 5 p.m., when her coworking space reverts back to its primary role as a working restaurant and bar.

“We get a text at the end of the day saying it’s time for happy hour,” she said.

Tell Us What You Think

Would you cowork in a bar? We want to hear from you. Tell us your opinion in the comments or join the conversation on Twitter.

Jen Hubley Luckwaldt
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