Spark Plaza "Coworking Space" Set To Open Next Week

Spark Plaza "Coworking Space" Set To Open Next Week (Added: March 26, 2009)

Video from your local news source. (more)

0 Ratings | 0 Video Views

Post a Comment or Rate this Video

» View More Videos

Spark Plaza "Coworking Space" Set To Open Next Week

Some new businesses are moving into Downtown Johnson City, but they won't be behind the traditional storefronts. Spark Plaza, the brainchild of Jose and Shannon Castillo, is set to officially open its doors April 3rd. Castillo says Spark Plaza will be the first "coworking space" in the Tri-Cities. It will be located above Freiberg's German Restaurant.

By Nate Morabito
Published: March 26, 2009

» 3 Comments | Post a Comment

With the changing times, more and more people are conducting business using just a cell phone and a laptop. Those people can be found working from home, at area coffee shops, or in a traditional office, but now there's a new alternative.

Spark Plaza, located in Downtown Johnson City, calls itself the Tri-Cities’ first coworking space. The laid-back atmosphere inside the building above Freiberg’s was the brainchild of technology consultant Jose Castillo and his wife Shannon.

"I, for my business, travel a lot,” Jose Castillo said. “I have a home office. I don't use it much, because I can't get things done there, so I go out and try to get things done in a coffee shop or a place like that."

But that got old for Castillo, so he and his wife came up with a solution; build a coworking space in Johnson City. Spark Plaza is somewhat of a social atmosphere complete with enough space for six full-time offices and 10 part-time workers. Similar spaces are popping up across the country, mostly in bigger cities.

"Literally, you walk in with your laptop bag and you have Wi-Fi, coffee, tea, all the facilities you need to get your work done,” Castillo said.

Of course, in return, you pay a monthly fee and sign a six-month lease. Kingsport web designer Jeff Rainey is testing out the space. In his mind, the conference room available for rent at Spark Plaza, is a better alternative than meeting a client at a local restaurant.

"(Restaurants) limit things to like 30 minutes for Wi-Fi, plus you can't have a projector and you have food and junk all over the place,” Rainey said. “This is a little bit cleaner, a little bit more professional."

Although Spark Plaza won’t officially open its doors until April 3rd, Shannon Castillo says potential clients are already showing interest.

"Individual business owners, freelance writers, freelance graphic artists, computer programmers,” Castillo said.

If Spark Plaza is successful, the Castillos hope to build other coworking spaces in Johnson City. They will hold a daylong “Open House” at the Main Street location on Friday, April 3rd.