Proximity Blog Feature
While C3 WorkLounge may not be new to the Proximity Network, we want to take the time to show them off a bit! Located in Missoula, MT, this space offers rotating food trucks, snacks and beverages, private phone booths, business-class copy services, and more. C3 is the place to get in, sit down, and get shit done! We caught up with Erika Surmi, C3’s community manager, to find out more about her space.
When did you open your coworking space and what enticed you to do so?
C3 WorkLounge opened in October of 2018, and we have been growing ever since! We are the first coworking space to open in Missoula, Montana! Our developers saw the need in the Missoula community to have a full-service coworking space as an option for people. The space is also a compliment to Old Sawmill District’s “Live. Work. Play.” theme, and provides an innovative space for workers to connect, collaborate and create.
Tell us about your space. How big is it? What kinds of amenities do you have? What sort of quirks make it special?
C3 WorkLounge is 2915 sf – we are a smaller coworking space but our space is amazing! We offer so many different amenities! We have bottomless coffee and tea, a fully stocked kitchen with snacks, La Croix, kombucha, cold brew, and other beverages. We have a kegerator with local brews on tap, and we host weekly happy hours for our members to interact, meet new faces, and get to know one another. There are two food trucks onsite each day as well as a neighborhood café called the Dog and Bicycle Café. We are located across the street from a Pioneer League Baseball Team/Park that is home to several baseball games and concerts throughout the summer. We have a fitness studio on the second floor of our building as well as residential leasing options. There is free parking – and lots of it! We are a 5-minute drive or bike ride to downtown – just close enough to enjoy all that downtown has to offer without having to pay/find parking. We offer printing and conference room time. We have two private conference rooms with a full-screen monitor, conference room calling, and whiteboards for those brilliant ideas! We also have two private phone booths within our space. We also offer three membership types with 24/7 secure access. What makes our space unique is that we are located in a new development called the Old Sawmill District. This lively community is growing with brand new housing, restaurants, businesses, and events – all within minutes from downtown and river/trail access! You get the best of the work and play.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My favorite thing about operating a coworking space is the relationships that have developed in our coworking space. Everyone comes together from all walks of life and shares their stories and projects with one another. We really have a great sense of community here and it’s so fun to be part of it!
What has been the most surprising/unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
One of the most surprising things about our coworking space is how fast we have grown in such a short period of time! We have two waiting lists for our dedicated offices and desks. We just put in an order for larger tables because our open area seating is growing quickly.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
I don’t think I can just pick one! We have amazing people who work in our space and it really makes my day when I’m out and about in Missoula and I see members hanging out together outside of the coworking space. It makes me feel like I’ve done my job well.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
The biggest piece of advice that I can give is to be flexible! There is no set rulebook for operating a coworking space. What might work in one coworking space, might not work in another. It is vital to get to know the members of your space – find out what they like and listen to them! The space would be just a space without the members. The members turn the space into a community.
Read the full article here.