A co-working franchisor is making its metro Detroit debut and says its soon-to-be-announced Oakland County location will offer private offices, conference rooms, shared workspace, and mailing addresses.
Office Evolution, the U.S.’s largest co-working franchisor, features workspace designed for small- to medium-sized businesses and employees of larger corporations who are working remotely. It is based in Colorado.
While an exact location has not yet been announced, area residents Walt and Leslie Czarnecki are eyeing sites in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, and others. They expect the space will open in the second half of 2021. There is an existing Office Evolution location in Ann Arbor, and a Troy office is in development and expected to open in 2021.
“The Detroit suburbs have always had a thriving community of entrepreneurs, startups, and professional service providers,” Leslie Czarnecki says. “These business owners want to spend what little free time they have with their families and on their hobbies. They don’t want to be stuck in a car commuting to the city. This is the community that we can relate to and that we are looking forward to serving as Office Evolution franchisees.”
The chain’s growth has been fueled in part by the pandemic – some businesses are turning away from real estate in densely packed cities and turning toward flexible workspaces, according to the Czarnecki’s. Some employers have also found that remote working is resulting in more productive employees and have already tapped into co-working or are considering it.
“With the rising demand for co-working locations, now seemed like the perfect time to chase our entrepreneurial dream and help our local business community thrive,” Walt Czarnecki says. “Having the opportunity to support, witness, and share in the successes of our members gives us great satisfaction, and we can’t wait to open our doors.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Office Evolution has enacted safety and health protocols at its offices.
“We are operating in a new normal, which requires businesses to finally shed their antiquated real estate agreements in favor of more flexible options,” says Andrea Pirrotti-Dranchak, chief marketing and development officer of Office Evolution. “Office Evolution is stepping up our growth strategy to meet the rising demand for flexible workspace that is conveniently located in the suburbs close to where solopreneurs and independent employers and remote workers live. Detroit is the perfect market for our unique concept, and we are excited for the Czarnecki’s to join Office Evolution.”
Office Evolution was founded in 2003 and has been franchising since 2012. It has more than 70 locations in 25 states across the country. According to a JLL report, 30 percent of all office space is expected to become shared by 2030.
