I didn't end up doing it, so can't report anything useful. :) On Friday, March 24, 2017 at 6:35:29 PM UTC+1, Patricia Spicuzza wrote: > > Hey Will, > I was just looking for an update on this, particularly in light of the > retail apocalypse happening now. > > What's the word? > > Patricia > > On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 6:15:05 AM UTC-4, Will Bennis, Locus > Workspace wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> Recently a shopping mall realtor approached me about opening a coworking >> space in their closed gaming zone/internet cafe. I'd love to hear opinions >> about this, pros and cons. Before you completely ignore this post as coming >> from someone who is clearly not from the same coworking planet, here is why >> I'm even considering it: >> >> (1) *With respect to the fact that mall real estate goes for a premium: *At >> least where I am, a lot of shopping malls are trying to build in >> community/space quality features that make going to the mall (which lets >> face it, most people in urban areas sometimes do) a more human experience: >> space-taking areas like open art galleries, free indoor playgrounds, >> exhibition space, gardens, etc. These spaces add value/traffic to the mall >> as a whole, making the rentable space more valuable. This means that the >> mall owner may be willing to partially fund a coworking space if it adds >> value to the mall as a whole. >> >> (2) *With regard to the importance of community and quality of the work >> environment: *Sure, malls are horrific. But they're also a reality. >> Wouldn't creating coworking spaces in the horrific reality of a shopping >> mall make malls a little less horrific? To the extent you could contribute >> to the reinvention of malls as more human, community-focused spaces, >> wouldn't it be a good thing to promote the development of a coworking space >> in a mall? >> >> (3) *With respect to the objection that it wouldn't be sustainable; the >> kind of people drawn to coworking would not want to do it in a mall: *The >> malls where I am right now have many fast food restaurants (McDonalds, KFC, >> etc.) with free bad wifi and people working away on their laptops or in >> business meetings, or higher end cafes where laptop workers aren't as >> welcome and places to work aren't comfortable or well suited for meaningful >> work or quality meetings. I would guess many of the people who work in the >> area or who are just there while their partners are shopping or their kids >> are at the movies would love a more human space to work. Yes, they're not >> the people traditionally drawn to coworking, but is there room for >> something in between? >> >> My big question I guess is whether there would be a way to do this that >> would create more than the equivalent of a hotel "business center" or an >> internet cafe? Would there value or demand for a community-focused >> workspace in a mall? >> >> Clearly this couldn't be an ideal community-focused and community-driven >> coworking space. But is there room for something between the ideal and the >> "business center" in a shopping mall (or airport or highway >> gas-station/restaurant off-ramp for that matter)? Something that would help >> build the sense of community and humanity in these largely community-less >> spaces? Could it bear the *coworking *name? >> >> I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. >> >> Best, >> Will >> >
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