Plexpod Opening Second Downtown Co-Working Space in River Market

Plexpod is opening a co-working space at 512 Delaware in the River Market large enough to accommodate 80 people, bringing office use to a section of the historic street where several bars and restaurants have opened recently.

“We need bodies working too,” said Craig Slawson, the Denver developer who owns the building where Plexpod will lease space for what will be its fourth location in the metro area.

“We believe with all the people living in the River Market…there’s a need for this.”

According to a release, Plexpod plans to open its 8,000 square-foot space on the first two floors of 512 Delaware in December.

This will be the firm’s second downtown location. Last December Plexpod acquired the former Think Big co-working space at 1712 Main in the Crossroads.

Plexpod also operates Westport Commons in the former Westport Middle School, and another operation is in Lenexa.

Slawson’s firm, Epoch Developments, has been steadily filling the properties he purchased on Delaware last year with new food and beverage businesses including Tribe, Our Daily Nada and Betty Rae’s Ice Cream.

The Plexpod deal is his first foray into office space.

“Epoch owns 10 of the 18 street-facing buildings on this historic street and we’re in the process of curating local restauranteurs and merchants to build up the area as a walkable, creative district with a focus on local merchants, share space, creative businesses and live-work-play offerings,” he said in a statement.

“Plexpod’s unique collaborative co-working community is exactly the type of tenant we’re hoping to attract for the Delaware Street development.”

Plexpod offers 16 types of work styles ranging from open desks and collaborative workspaces to private offices and team spaces, according to a release.

Locations feature unique resources like meeting rooms, photography studios and performance theaters as well as personal amenities including outdoor space, social events and fitness options.

“We see River Market and namely Delaware street as one of the leading emerging hot spots of amenities, which is ideal for our Plexpod member community,” Gerald Smith, founder and CEO, said in a statetment.

“This new facility will be another great collaboration location for Plexpod member-companies across the metro to access and enjoy.”

Slawson said Plexpod will be occupying space formerly occupied by ER Marketing, which has relocated to 909 Broadway.

“The ER space was perfect for co-working,” he said. “We’ll renovate that and add more space.”

Plexpod is one of several entities operating co-working space downtown. The others are: WeWork at Corrigan Station, 1828 Walnut; Office Port KC, 208 W. 19th St.; Regus, 107 W. Ninth St.; Spark KC at Two Light apartments, and the Sprint Accelerator, 210 W. 19th Terr.

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