Pasadena Coworking Spaces ‘Climbing Back’ to Pre-COVID Levels

[UPDATED] It may seem as though they wouldn’t have the same problems as other businesses, but Pasadena coworking spaces have taken their share of hits from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, that pain has been acutely felt in Pasadena, home to no fewer than seven coworking sites, including national behemoth WeWork, which started in New York City in 2010. That company today boasts 120 locations around the country, and currently occupies two floors of the 17-story building at the corner Marengo Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

But like other industries, coworking also depends on people who sell and those who buy, and when no one is working, including their own company employees, as well as freelancers and other clients using their space, no one gets paid, including the landlord.

“The number of inquiries and tours drastically dropped in the months following March, but since July, we have had more people reaching out,” says Treg Hudson, community manager with CTRL Collective in Pasadena. “It’s stayed relatively consistent since then.”

CTRL Collective is located at 45 S. Arroyo Parkway, a two-story brick building that was once a popular Old Pasadena gym. They have three other locations in Playa Vista, Huntington Beach, and Denver.

“We are slowly starting to climb back to occupancy levels nearer to where we were at the beginning of the year,” said Hudson.

Their membership plans offer workspaces in the form of coworking desks and private offices with basic facilities. Cost depends on the number of people in a team. For more information, email them at general@ctrlcollective.com or call (310) 301-0003.

“The customer base has definitely shifted from offices and teams to individuals looking for either private desk space or access to the shared area. We also have quite a few people who are employed remotely and do not want to or cannot work for home for various reasons,” Hudson said.

With a photo studio on-site, “We have a lot of photographers and people in marketing who are here. The ages and backgrounds vary greatly. We have everyone from freelancers to lawyers who use our space.”

Starting hotdesk memberships are $199 for part-time (10 days a month) and $349 for full-time (24/7). The hotdesk membership gives access to any of the shared seating spaces, which are insured and cleaned every day with chairs spaced to accommodate social distancing guidelines, Hudson said.

“We also ask everyone to wear a mask while walking around the building. Our private offices reflect the surrounding market value but we are also currently offering specials for new contracts. We offer a variety of price points to accommodate needs for as many people as we can,” Hudson said.

“I think the fact that we have a functioning photo studio definitely makes us stand out from our competition. We also pride ourselves in building a community of people and entrepreneurs who are able to connect with one another and provide services to one another within the space,” he said.

WeWork, which weathered its share of financial troubles last year and sold off all non-core assets, is actually now enjoying a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Fortune magazine. The increased demand comes from people fed up with working from home and unsure if or when their own offices will reopen.

WeWork also launched a pay-as-you-go option in New York City with plans to expand in other markets, according to Fortune magazine. For $29 per day, anyone in the Big Applee can reserve a desk at WeWork. Meeting rooms can also be booked for $10 an hour. Each coworking space includes precautions, such as social distancing, plenty of hand sanitizer, and a requirement to wear masks when visitors get up from their desks.

“We think this is what the future of work looks like. In a given week or month, an employee may work at corporate headquarters, a satellite office, a third place, and at home. They won’t just be in headquarters all the time. That seems clear,” John Lewis, vice president at WeWork enterprise sales, told the magazine.

Located at 177 E. Colorado Blvd., WeWork offers membership plans that include private offices, dedicated desks, and hot desks.

Other local coworking spaces include:

Barrister Executive Suites, 225 S. Lake Ave Ave., Pasadena, offers various services to business practitioners, startups, and entrepreneurs in terms of work areas and additional amenities. For details, call (800) 576-0744 or email them at leasing@barrister-suites.com.

If cooking is your business, Chefs Center of California, 45 N. San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena, with its shared kitchen space, is for you. Call (626) 744-9995 for details.

Cross Campus is at 87 N. Raymond Ave., also in Old Pasadena. Membership costs range from $300 to $500 a month. For more information, call (310) 706-0221 or write to info@crosscamp.us.

Premier Workspace offers two different locations in Pasadena – 1055 E Colorado Blvd., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91106 and 790 E Colorado Blvd., 9th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101. Both locations a variety of amenities, and day offices start at $35 an hour. For more information, call (626) 240-4600 or visit their website at https://www.premierworkspaces.com/

Reasonably priced Regus Coworking Space Pasadena is located at 1117 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 600, Pasadena, and at 155 N. Lake Ave., suite 800, Pasadena. For more information, call (855) 400-3575. Regus Pasadena coworking space offers office spaces, coworking desks, and a working set up for as little $16-$22, with a coworking desk going for $14.

Spaces, another popular option, is located at 680 E. Colorado Blvd., No. 180, Pasadena, in the heart of the city’s Playhouse District. Space for up to six people ranges from $1,200 to $2,200. For more information, call (626) 665-9955.