Jenny Poon
CO+HOOTS Moves into New Spot
Posted on 11/05/12 by Courtney McCune » No Comments
CO+HOOTS, the downtown Phoenix co-working space, landed at its new home at 1027 E. Washington St. The move is part of a larger collaboration among local co-working spaces and incubators to create an entrepreneurial business corridor known as “Washington Row.”
After two successful years at their Garfield neighborhood location, CO+HOOTS is primed for growth. Having met their capacity with 20 businesses, the new space will allow them to offer support and expanded resources to a greater number of local entrepreneurs, while contributing to the development of downtown Phoenix. CO+HOOTS had been temporarily housed at monOrchid Gallery in Roosevelt Row since early August.
Entrepreneurs welcome here.
“The move will transcend CO+HOOTS beyond its functional role as a stand-alone collaborative space with desks and meeting rooms,” CO+HOOTS Founder Jenny Poon said. “It will help institute a big-picture plan focused on creating enduring partnerships and breathing life into the entrepreneurial core of the city.”
Others joining forces in the effort to put Phoenix on the map for its culture of innovation include SEEDspot, whose focus is on supporting social entrepreneurial ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation at Gateway Community College.
By establishing themselves along Washington, these spaces benefit from their proximity to each other and to the light rail, while helping to revitalize a key part of the city. As these small businesses grow, the concept is that they will eventually populate other buildings along Washington street, continually adding to the vibrancy of the corridor and the downtown Phoenix community.
CO+HOOTS and their partners in this effort have received strong support from Phoenix community leaders. Mayor Greg Stanton praised these business for having “the talent and vision critical to economic development in making our city competitive.”
Kimber Lanning, founder and executive director of Local First Arizona, also voiced her support, saying “Phoenix is becoming an outstanding place for entrepreneurs and CO+HOOTS is a shining example of a shared space that helps new businesses of all kinds thrive.”
“The city benefits in many ways when entrepreneurs are supported and we need to do all we can to keep our brightest, most innovative entrepreneurs here at home,” says Lanning.
CO+HOOTS Brings Co-Working Downtown
Posted on 6/28/10 by Christina O'Haver » 2 Comments
So, you walk into a local coffee shop today, like you do on several other days of the week, with your laptop tucked under your arm and your brain spinning with all of the work you have to do. Your favorite table, the one right by the power outlet and the window, is taken by someone else. He has his papers sprawled across the table and doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving any time soon, so you settle for a different spot nearby.
CO+HOOTS occupies the J.B. Bayless Grocery building.
After answering your e-mails and reading the news, you finally get to work. But, the woman next to you answers a personal phone call and you’re forced to hear the entire conversation, no matter how hard you try to block it out. You decide to take a break and catch up on your social networking until she’s done, but by that time you’ve already lost focus.
Sound familiar? It probably does if your job doesn’t provide with you an office space. Fortunately, there is now a place where you can avoid it all.
Downtown Phoenix is about to get its first co-working space. It’s called CO+HOOTS, and its purpose is to provide you with a place to work where you will be surrounded by other creative people that can help inspire you instead of hinder your productivity.
Co-workers can choose from different membership levels, but first must apply to get a space. They are selected based on how well they are expected to fit in with the other members.
“It’s a community of people that believe in the same thing that want to do better, and it’s not just about making money — it’s about building better work,” says CO+HOOTS manager and eeko studio owner Jenny Poon.
About a year ago, Poon had the idea of getting three or four other businesses to share a space with her, thinking they would be the elements that make up an advertising agency.
“I wanted an office space because that was the most obvious next step for my business,” she reveals. “And then I wanted to be in an environment where I was inspired by other people.”
The plan didn’t work out, and Poon stopped searching for a space for a while. When she began to look again, she revisited the former J.B. Bayless Grocery store near 7th and Roosevelt streets, a location she had looked at before. The owner of the historic building suggested she turn it into a co-working space, and, less than two months ago, the idea of CO+HOOTS was born.
The 4,000-sq.-ft. building, constructed in 1926, features stained concrete floors, an unfinished 15-foot ceiling and brick walls decorated with artwork and lined with large windows that provide plenty of natural light.
Poon also plans to use the space for events, such as First Friday displays and guest speaker appearances.
“A big part is doing educational events for small businesses and entrepreneurs who just want to get better,” she says.
The first event at CO+HOOTS is its grand opening celebration this First Friday. Guests will be able to tour the facility and learn about the benefits of co-working. There will also be a collection of work from local photographers and artists, and guests will have the opportunity to create a special art project that will be displayed in the building.
Working at CO+HOOTS
Memberships at CO+HOOTS run $350 or $650 a month, and include a variety of features. Interested co-workers can check out the spot with a $10 day pass. A two-week trial runs at approximately $100.
If You Go: CO+HOOTS Grand Opening
Friday, July 2, from 7 to 11 p.m.
825 N. 7th St. in Garfield
Art on display by Aaron Abbott, Mark Lipczynski, Jeremie Lederman, Huilin Dai, Mark Peterman, Courtney Sargent and Christine Johnson. Music by Meagan Gipson.
Also on hand: Truckin’ Good Food and ONEHOPE Wine.
For more information and to RSVP, check out the Facebook event page.
