While coworking spaces were certainly around before the pandemic, the number of professionals working remotely or from home has increased dramatically over the past two and a half years.
This has led to a surge in the popularity of coworking spaces which prior to the pandemic were primarily utilized by entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Post pandemic, working from home isn’t just for entrepreneurs anymore. With every type of professional, from government employees and sales professionals to high level managers and “almost retired, but not quite yet” retirees, working a few consulting hours, there has been a continued growing demand for more and better spaces to work from in Sonoma County.
Here are some favorites.
Keller Street CoWork (Petaluma)
Located just a 5-10 minute walk from much of downtown Petaluma. Flexible hot desk memberships, make yourself comfortable at any open table, desk, etc. or purchase a membership that comes with a dedicated desk, and access to two conference rooms, four phone booths and a kitchen/coffee station.
Monthly memberships run from $300-$400/month for unlimited hours/usage (hot desk or dedicated desk), but Keller also offers less expensive options for those who don’t need a full space, such as day passes ($30/day) and 10 day passes ($200).
What we love most about this space:
– Freshly brewed drip coffee + Nespresso espresso machine always available
– Ability to book group meeting or conference rooms included in membership
-Regular social networking events such as Happy Hour Fridays, Stretch Labs and more
-Fun social extras such as a downstairs ping pong room, a keg on tap, etc.
-Walking distance to markets, restaurants and nearby cafes
-Flexible day pass and lower package options
Things to Know:
-While there is plenty of free parking available near this space, there are two and four hour limits, so it’s necessary to move one’s car at least once a day.
Address: 140 Keller St, Petaluma
Website: https://kellerstreetcowork.com/
CoLab (Santa Rosa)
Located just a few blocks from 4th street in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa, CoLab offers a convenient location and plenty of space for both those in search of flexible hot desk memberships, as well as those seeking a permanent dedicated desk space in a shared office environment.
The CoLab building is also home to a handful of local business offices or headquarters.
CoLab memberships include affordable and flexible community memberships and monthly packages that start at $35 for a day pass (but allow the member to add on additional days for only $20/day) or $199/month for a “Collaborative Membership,” which includes 10 day passes/month.
Regular monthly coworking membership rates are $299/month and include unlimited use of the space, seven days/week. Monthly memberships also include a certain number of hours’ use of meeting rooms/conference rooms by appointment.
CoLab access hours are Sunday through Saturday from 5am–midnight.
What we like best about this space:
-Free sparkling water and coffee
-Ability to book group meeting rooms included in membership
-Plenty of space and different options for where to sit as a flexible hot desk member
-Located just blocks from downtown Santa Rosa and plenty of restaurants (Indian, Vietnamese, Mexican, American, bistro, etc.), cafes, markets and the Wednesday night Santa Rosa market
-Affordable day pass and lower monthly plan options
-Dedicated/private parking lot (with passes to display in car for members)
-Dog friendly
Address: 427 Mendocino Ave., Suite 100, Santa Rosa
Website: www.colabconnect.com
CraftWork (Healdsburg)
Situated in downtown Healdsburg, CraftWork has served as a shared workspace, office space and gathering space for local professionals since early 2020.
The space features a lobby (complete with a fireplace and cozy seating), a large open space with flexible and dedicated desks/seating, two meeting/conference rooms, two phone booths and a handful of private offices.
Monthly “Bohemian” memberships (use any open desk space at open tables/desks) at CraftWork cost $300, while a dedicated desk is $450/month, day passes are $35/day and packages of 10 half-days are $200.
All monthly memberships include use of meeting rooms (a certain # of hours is included in membership) by reservation, attendance at entrepreneurial events and social mixers, and printing services.
CraftWork is open to members (who have full monthly memberships) from 6am to midnight, seven days a week.
What we like best about this space:
-Free sparkling water
-Free snacks are always available (nuts, granola bars, chocolate, etc.)
-Freshly brewed (local) coffee and access to an espresso/cappuccino machine where members can make their own espresso, steam milk, etc.
-Access to an outdoor patio where members can enjoy coffee or lunch or take phone calls
-Walking distance to everything in downtown Healdsburg (tons of great restaurants)
-Ability to book group meeting rooms included in membership
-Regular social networking events that include food and/or drinks and which are well attended (i.e. the management here works hard to ensure that events are successful and that people connect with each other on a regular basis)
-Walking distance to everything downtown Healdsburg has to offer: restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, etc.
-The space is dog friendly
Address: 445 Center St, Healdsburg
Website: https://www.craftworkhbg.com
