12 minute read
Real Estate
Pandemic sparks office evolution
Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt of a story that appears in the latest Real Estate Issue of WilmingtonBiz Magazine. To read more, visit WilmingtonBizMagazine.com. BY JOHANNA CANO
Early wake-up alarms used to give many office workers enough time to get ready, drop kids off at school and head to the office. After greeting the office pet and saying “good morning” to coworkers, many would sip coffee while checking emails and getting ready for a meeting.
That all ended suddenly for workers as many offices closed last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. This changed where and how many workers operate. And while some may be back to some form of normalcy, others are still relying on their home offices, dining tables, laptops and more recently, coworking spaces, to get things done.
With COVID-19 protocols, some workplaces are seeing a fraction of their usual traffic and others may have gone completely remote. Take California-based software company Salesforce.com Inc. Its leadership team prophetically announced earlier this year that the “9-to-5 workday is dead” and that workers may now choose to work remotely permanently.
Even before the pandemic, though, a new take on the office space known as coworking spaces started sprouting in big cities in the U.S., from WeWork to Venture X. And in the past few years, cities such as Wilmington, Charlotte and Raleigh have also experienced their share of the rise in these spaces.
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Coworking spaces are filling a need for those who miss the structure and sense of community gained from a work office, said Aaron Ellis, Wilmington community manager for Dallas-based Common Desk.
The space, which opened Jan. 18 in downtown Wilmington, joined other dedicated coworking spaces in the city, including Blue Mind Coworking, tekMountain, Genesis Block and Coworx. A smaller, growing city like Wilmington was the right spot for a new Common Desk location, Ellis said.
“We were looking for a market that wasn’t too enormous that we could come in and actually be noticed,” Ellis said about opening in Wilmington. “You drop something like this in middle of San Francisco, and you’re sort of white noise. This downtown area has a local, Southern hospitality-type feel, and that’s who we are.” The coworking space, at 226 N. Front St., is located on all three floors of the historical Gaylord Building, totaling 22,000 square feet. The space, empty since the 1980s, underwent an extensive renovation by Monteith Construction Corp. that included gutting the building.
The modernized building, complete with a coffee shop, preserved many aspects of the historical building including its brick walls and repurposed pine floor joists.
With 35 private offices, 15,000 square feet of common space, four large suites and amenities, Common Desk hopes to attract a diverse group of members who seek to be productive and most of all, a sense of community.
“We have found that so many people are craving some sort of rhythm in their life for work. Working from home was fun for about the first month and then the reality of it kicked in,” Ellis said. “I think a lot of people didn’t realize how important work community was to them until they didn’t have it anymore.”
PHOTO BY MEGAN DEITZ Office space anywhere: People work inside Common Desk in downtown Wilmington. Common Desk is one of the new coworking spaces that have opened recently as more people work remotely.
Another new coworking space that also seeks to tap into the need for a collective workplace is Blue Mind. With a slated opening in April at 301 Government Center Drive, founders Michael and Julie Donlon wanted to provide a collaborative space that promotes business growth.
With the temporary physical closure of tekMountain due to COVID, the Donlons wanted to create a similar space to serve individuals, solopreneurs and small teams, but also the community.
“Our larger mission is for the space to foster innovation and business growth, which creates more jobs and keeps talented entrepreneurs and small businesses local,” Michael Donlon said.
Blue Mind provides dedicated desks, private offices, conference rooms and meeting and event spaces. Memberships are provided monthly and include amenities.
The pandemic accelerated many employers’ experiments in remote working, Michael Donlon said.
“I think a lot of employers were a little reticent to do [remote working] just because of loss of control or what have you, but what they are finding is that their employees remain productive and stepped up to the challenge,” he said. “I think the trend was headed that way. This just accelerated the speed that we got there.”
While there are a lot of pluses in remote working, one thing that people start to miss is human interaction, Donlon said.
“When people come into Blue Mind, they certainly ask about the space and the capabilities, but invariably, they ask about the networking and the interaction,” he said. “It’s not just a coworking space. It’s an opportunity for networking with like-minded professionals and sharing ideas and challenges.”
WHAT’S NORMAL ANYMORE?
As coworking spaces start to accommodate remote workers in a new office model, many traditional office spaces have started adopting a new model as well.
Copycat Print Shop in Wilmington has 10 employees all working on-site. The company, however, has created and used a mitigation plan for COVID-19 scares that includes working remotely, rotating shifts and separating workers at different ends of its office.
Along with air purifiers, the office space has installed acrylic shields along its front counter and dividers between workers, among other measures.
When asked if the office might ever go back to “normal,” Copycat Owner Betsy Kahn said, “Normal … what’s normal anymore? Hard to predict what the future holds. ”
ALSO FEATURED IN THE LATEST WILMINGTONBIZ MAGAZINE REAL ESTATE ISSUE:
• how mixed-use is mixing up building projects; • profiles of industry professionals; • signature projects of local architects; • industry trends and market stats; and much more.
Reader’s Guide
BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Wilmington courthouses, state government offices and informational websites. These listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.
New Corporations lists firms that were recently incorporated in the state of North Carolina. All information is gathered from the North Carolina Secretary of State website. Addresses listed may not be the actual address of the business.
NEW CORPS
March 12-19
1007 CAROLINA BEACH AVENUE NORTH TOWNHOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. 575 Military Cutoff Road Suite 106 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jillian C.S. Blanchard
147 BRENTWOOD DRIVE LLC 302 N Lumina Ave Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Robert Rosenberg
1813 PRESTWICK LLC 1813 Prestwick Close Wilmington 28405 Agent: Christopher Noonan
4902 ORIOLE DRIVE LLC 1509 Country Club Rd Wilmington 28403 Agent: George Edward Holt IV
614 PEACOCK LANE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION 124 Walnut St Apt 608 Wilmington 28401 Agent: David Nathans
A&L AMMO HOLDINGS INC. 2821 N Kerr Ave Wilmington 28405 Agent: Robert Ayers
ADJ HOME LLC 601 Chicamacomico Way Bald Head Island 28461 Agent: Gary A. Murdock
AIT SONA LLC 201 Alston Blvd Suite C Box 20 Hampstead 28443 Agent: Jennifer McCormick Bohan
AJ RAHM ADVENTURES LLC 53 York Lane Hampstead 28443 Agent: Andrew James Rahm AMANI SHANAE LLC 414 Benjamin Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: Shelley Blanks
AMERICA’S TAX & TRANSLATION SERVICE LLC 925 S College Road Suite 1 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Pedro Ulyses Gomez
ARMSTRONG & SONS LLC. 2161 Brookstone Dr Se Bolivia 28422 Agent: Joshua Vance Armstrong
AUTISM CENTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA LLC 8 Inlet Hook Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Caroline Kelly
B & B FOOTERS INC. 2191 River St Sw Supply 28462 Agent: Joshua Lee Beaver
BADGER BOX PROPERTIES LLC 5908 Headsail Ct Wilmington 28409 Agent: Christopher Welch
BEACH BUM CAFE LLC. 909 Wyndfall Dr Sw Sunset Beach 28468 Agent: Amanda J Amor
BEAUTI BLU AESTHETICS & WELLNESS LLC 110 Seven Oaks Court Hampstead 28443 Agent: Sunny Coy
BELL REALTY COASTAL LIVING LLC 303 E 8th St Southport 28461-3527 Agent: Melissa J Bell
BK HOLDINGS OF HAMPSTEAD LLC 308 Grovediere Lane Hampstead 28443 Agent: John Bradley Knight Jr.
BROWN DOG PROPERTIES LLC 138 Tanbridge Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Smith Prevost TRANSPORTING LLC 203 Newkirk Rd Burgaw 28425 Agent: Dayvone Tamont Brown
BZCO LLC 6711 Netherlands Drive Unit 120 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Brice M. Bratcher
CAKE MAN’S BAKES LLC 936 S 10th St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Sophia Henry
CALAVERAS WEST PROPERTIES LLC 35 Anson Street Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Cynthia R. Kutil - Brown
CAPRONI/HEJRANI BROKERS LLC 1001 Military Cutoff Road Suite 101 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Tyler Thomas Caproni
CASTRO ALL-STAR PAINTING LLC 1319 Riggs Trail Wilmington 28412 Agent: Ramon Alfredo Fabrega
CATRACHO CONSTRUCTION LLC 170 Arlington Dr Wilmington 28401 Agent: Hector E Espinoza- Ruiz
CHEL HALE LAND COMPANY LLC 1308 Lovingston Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Joseph DeLiberto
CHICO’S CONSTRUCTION LLC 5105 Wrightsville Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: Everly Ramirez
CHUCKY’S CATERING LLC 300 Mott Town Rd Atkinson 28421 Agent: Terri D Barnhill
CLEAN FOR ME LLC 5140 Carolina Beach Rd Lot 24 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Suly Buelto
COALSWITCH NC LLC 575 Military Cutoff Rd. Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jennifer D Scott Esqx.
COASTAL AUTOMATION LLC 3437 Scupper Run SE Southport 28461 Agent: James E Jones Jr
COASTAL EQUITRAIN LLC 1157 Malpass Corner Rd Burgaw 28425 Agent: Carey A. Hunter
COASTAL PRODUCE CO. LLC 880 Fredrick Trl SW Supply 28462 Agent: Nicholas V. Butler Southport 28461 Agent: Jo Ellen McMullan
COASTAL TOURISM AND MARKETING LLC 160 Fallbrook Lane Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Dacia Lynn Zimmer
COUTURE LASH INC. 7202 Wrightsville Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: Lea Esplana
DENISE LOPATKA & COMPANY LLC 1845 S. Churchill Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Denise Lopatka
DOUBLE E INVESTMENTS NO. 3 LLC 5830 Ocean Hwy E Winnabow 28479 Agent: J C Evans
DULCE A. PRODUCE LLC 110 Doc Smith Rd Willard 28478 Agent: Raul Herrera Guzman
EASTERN INTEGRATION LLC 2632 Borough Rd Currie 28435 Agent: Amelia M Hardin
EKALAN DIGITAL MARKETING LLC 7037 Bayou Way Wilmington 28411 Agent: Kalan M McEuen
ELEVATORS NOW L.L.C. 321 Tangle Oaks Ct. Leland 28451 Agent: Angelo Roy Vuocolo
ENLIVINCOLOUR LLC 6400 Carolina Beach Rd. Suite 8 #357 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Toni Witherspoon
ETHAN’S CONSTRUCTION LLC 5259 Irvine Trail NE Leland 28451 Agent: Hilario Parada Martinez
FAST FORWARD CONSULTING SOLUTIONS LLC 3602 Princess Place Dr Wilmington 28405 Agent: Crystal Anita Clay
FORTY-ELEVEN.01 LLC 221 Williams Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Thomas Congleton
FORTY-ELEVEN.02 LLC 221 Williams Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Thomas Congleton
FUTURE FOCUSED THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS P.L.L.C. 201 River Gate Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Janet Moore
G&S VENDING LLC 1020 Tideline Dr Leland 28451 Agent: Antonio J Griffin Wilmington 28403 Agent: A.V.I. Property Management LLC
H2O.P.E. LLC 9632 Holly Hills Drive NE Leland 28451 Agent: Registered Agents Inc.
HARPO PROPERTIES LLC 1001 Military Cutoff Rd. Suite 101 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Melissa Martin
HILL DYNASTY LLC 3250 Kennedy Dr Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Wanda Hill-Wells
HOPE IN SIGHT INC. 1319 Military Cutoff Rd Ste II Wilmington 28405 Agent: Crystal Brimer
ILLUZION LLC 1213 Culbreth Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Thomas W Kerner
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND ELECTRICAL AUTOMATION LLC 3300 Belmont Circle Wilmington 28405 Agent: Stephen Neil Haggett
INER PES APPAREL COMPANY LLC 204 Cypress Ave. Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Kyle Jeremy Henry
INNOVATE INC 1512 Radian Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Dale W. Boyd Jr
INNOVATIVE VIRAL SOLUTIONS LLC 1213 Culbreth Dr. Wilmington 28405 Agent: Thomas W. Kerner
INSPIRATION TENDER LLC 111 Princess Street Wilmington 28401 Agent: Jeffrey L. Zimmer
ISLAND CRUISES INC. 2008 Daniel Boone Trl Wilmington 28411 Agent: Anthony William Newberry
IVY & JANE LLC 3220 Midvale Dr Unit 215 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Carolyn Jane McBide
J MORGAN & GROUP LLC 1079 Maplewood Ct Leland 28451 Agent: Jerry Morgan Hutto
J&G BROS TRUCKING LLC 117 Dapple Ct Wilmington 28403 Agent: Warrick Dean Jones II
JAMES B. RIVENBARK PA 745 Tuscan Way Wilmington 28411 Agent: James B. Rivenbark EVENTS LLC 4608 Cedar Ave Suite 113 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Linda Y Agustin
JCKIN HOLDINGS CORP 7263 Schooners Ct SW #4 Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Justin Clay Kinlaw
JEFF BROWN YACHTS INC. 6 Marina St. Suite 1 Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Jeff L Brown
JET BUILDERS LLC 2418 Brodick Ct Wilmington 28411 Agent: Jason Evonko
JOURNEY GOLF CARTS LSV LLC 8822 Market St Ste 120 Wilmington 28411 Agent: Cole Burack
JUST A TRIM LAWN CARE CORPORATION 2524 Marsh Hen Drive Oak Island 28465 Agent: Brian George Muller
LEWKHOUR HOLDINGS LLC 2819 Park Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc.
LIBERTY LUCKY SEVEN LLC 575 Military Cutoff Rd. Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jennifer D Scott
LIFE SAVER ENTERPRISES INC 108 Great Pine Ct Wilmington 28411 Agent: Edward Fuerst
LLR CONSTRUCTION LLC 2814 Graham Street Wilmington 28412 Agent: Leonel Lopez Robles
LOCALS GUIDE TO SURFING LLC 1327 Live Oak Parkway Wilmington 28403 Agent: Glenn Burton Richardson II
LUXURY REAL ESTATE NC CORP. 6321 Towles Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Monica D. Rolquin
MACKE SIGNING LLC 6997 Bloomsbury Way Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Karen Arnold
MATARAY CONSULTING LLC 33 Yaupon Way Oak Island 28465 Agent: Silvia Van Dusen
MINISTERIO APOSTOLICO AVANCE MISIONERO WILMINGTON 1915 N. County Dr. Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Victor L Duran Murillo ENRICHMENT INC. 1304 Element Way Apt. 14201 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Terry McDowell
NC OUTDOOR PROGRAMS LLC 229 Bagley Ave Wilmington 28409 Agent: Madison Crum
NEPHEWS CLOTHING LTD. LIABILTIY CO. 1291 Washington St Southport 28461 Agent: Terrance Galloway
NICHOLS’ WORKS LLC 1337 Regatta Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Gina Alane Nichols
NOVEL CONCEPTS PUBLISHING LLC 107 Golf Terrace Dr Hampstead 28443 Agent: Catherine McDowell
OCEAN BREEZE AUTO FINANCE LLC 724 Antler Drive Wilmington 28409 Agent: Zachary Blue Miller Sr
OCEAN VIEW EQUITIES INC. 821 Fox Ridge Lane Wilmington 28405 Agent: Patricia Satrazemis
OLBACHI LLC 37 Laurinburg Street Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Nicholas Walters
OVERLOOK AT STONEY CREEK LLC 10 South Cardinal Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Robert J Hollis
PAW PRINTS CRAFTY CORNER LLC 7013 Trailhead Rd Leland 28451 Agent: Heather Ann Puening
PEEK CAPITAL HOLDINGS INCORPORATED 1504 Black Chestnut Dr Wilmington 28405 Agent: Matthew Peek
PENDER PALMS LLC 105 Latitude Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Christopher Roper
PORT CITY ACQUIREMENT LLC 1735 Canady Rd. Wilmington 28411 Agent: David W Buckner
PRISTINE FLOORS LLC 4240 Wilshire Blvd Apt 106 E Wilmington 28403 Agent: Curtis McLaughlin
PURPOSEFUL UNIVERSITY LLC 616 Seaside Road SW Sunset Beach 28468 Agent: De’Andrea Jackson Wilmington 28412 Agent: Randy Russell Hall
QUS CAPITAL LLC 5005 Gate Post Ln Wilmington 28412 Agent: William Lewis
RALPH HOMES AND CONSTRUCTION LLC 1357 Duffer Blvd NE Leland 28451 Agent: Dillice A Ralph II
RISING TIDE PLUMBING L.L.C. 1210 Bowfin Lane #1 Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Jeffrey W Hughes
RUFUS-SPT INC. 2113 Market St Wilmington 28403 Agent: Charles Archer
RUMANDA ENTERPRISES LLC 536 Edgewood Road Southport 28461 Agent: Ursula S. Wight
SALT EXTERIORS INCORPORATED 160 Stonewall Jackson Dr Wilmington 28412 Agent: Megan Waite
SCRIBBLE AND SHOUT LLC 143 Downy Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Skip Eames
SEAGATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT L.L.C. 3210 Graylyn Ter Wilmington 28411 Agent: Trevor Lanzi
SELF LOVE MUSEUM LLC 110 Rockwell Rd. Wilmington 28411 Agent: Delisa Derseraux
SELL2SALE LLC 1700 Waterwing Drivce Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Marty Ferrell
SHELDON NIXON ALL ABOVE LLC 213 Sunn Aire Ct Apt A Wilmington 28405 Agent: Sheldon Nixon
SHIVER FAMILY REALTY LLC 3421 Newroad Ave Burgaw 28425 Agent: William D Shiver
SKYDIVE LANE PARTNERS LLC 4410 Mockingbird Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Anne Goodwin
SOLAR SELECT LLC 4405 Cascade Road Wilmington 28409 Agent: Ray William Gunner
STEEL MAGNOLIAS INVESTMENTS LLC 1468 Eastbourne Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Nathan Bageant
