By Angela Blue
There’s a new coworking space opening this summer in Downtown Norfolk that will occupy the top two floors of 500 E. Main St. Gather offers 30,000 square feet of shared office space with panoramic views of the Elizabeth River. The location will be home to more than 150 private offices, larger suites for enterprise-level clients, open area workspaces, event space and a range of conference rooms and meetings spaces. Gather was originally launched in Richmond in 2014, and the Downtown Norfolk space is the first Coastal Virginia location for the company.
Demographic: 50 percent millennials. Clients include teleworkers from Fortune 500 companies, freelancers, entrepreneurs, etc. The space holds approximately 350 members.
Gather at Short Pump, Richmond
Vibe: Interior design for Gather was headed by Campfire & Co., a Richmond-based design studio focused on compelling branding and purposeful design. Modern and chic office furniture comes from West Elm and Poppin. Hallways are strategically planned to have points where members run into one another and spark organic conversation.
What sets it apart: “Our community,” says Savannah Bolin, regional director for Gather. “We really focus on events to bring the members together.” Events include Food Truck Fridays, pancake breakfasts, field trips to local spots, organized networking lunches and cookie hours (like a regular happy hour but with cookies).
Perks: Conference room access, copy/print/fax/scan machine, internet, coffee from Town Center Cold Pressed, fresh fruit water that changes daily, podcast booth, wellness/mother’s room, access to showers, mailroom, phone booths, WiFi.
Price: Membership starts at $250/month for basic access to the coworking area. For $350 members receive a dedicated desk, locking filing cabinet and chair. Starting at $500 members receive a private office. There’s also a pay as you go option ($40/month) where guests can spend their credit as they see fit—from $20/day for coworking to a deposit on a conference room or space rental.
Bonus: If you’re a member of one Gather location, you’re a member of all of them. “Being in this area, you’re going to have clients all over typically,” Bolin explains. “If you have a meeting in Newport News and clients in Richmond, you can use all of our spaces.”
Learn more at WorkAtGather.com.
Gather Again
Coming in August, Gather’s second Coastal Virginia location will open in Newport News’ Tech Center in Building One.
