Peek inside: This new coworking space on Troost opens doors to belonging (and a rooftop view)

A search for new office space turned into a bigger opportunity to connect for founder Jeff Wagner, who launched Belong Space as a coworking community within a resurgent hub along Troost. Its mission is in the name.

Jeff Wagner, Belong Space; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“It’s very difficult to find office space that’s in a qualified HUBZone neighborhood,” said Wagner, founder and CEO of Aspis Consulting. “It just so happened that this office was advertised, so I reached out to the leasing agent and we came and fell in love with the place and neighborhood.”

Housed in The Wonder Shops and Flats, a mixed-use development that features restaurants, retail, and nearly 80 apartments, Wagner’s new office now spans roughly 3,800 square feet on the second floor of the building.

“There’s only me and one other person from my team that come in on a daily basis,” Wagner said. “With all that square footage, we looked at how the space was currently divided, and we just moved in.”

Now open for coworking — and designed to support entrepreneurs without the commitment of a traditional lease — the space features four private offices, open workstations, and a large conference room outfitted with multiple screens. It can accommodate up to 38 people at its peak.

Belong Space officially launched in March and has already reached break-even, Wagner said. 

“I’m very proud of that, that demonstrates to me that there is definitely a market for some sort of office space,” he said.

The Wonder Shops and Flats, a mixed-use development at the corner of E. 30th St. and Troost Avenue; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Investing in a revitalized neighborhood

Wagner’s move was also about becoming part of the revitalization happening along Troost Avenue, he said, noting his small team and their fellow coworkers enjoy native amenities like the presence of The Combine, a craft pizzeria, downstairs.

“There’s a couple other shops that are on the first floor, and Ruby Jean’s is just across the street,” he added.

The surrounding area was a strong influence on his decision to build something new. 

“The Troost corridor north of Linwood here is really great,” Wagner said. “It’s all being redeveloped from Linwood up to Hospital Hill. There’s new restaurants, there’s hotels, there’s apartments, it’s really an up-and-coming neighborhood.”

Membership built with flexibility

Belong Space uses a flexible model that looks less like a traditional lease and more like a gym membership, Wagner explained, noting a full member pays $100 per month. Options include shared “hot desk” access, dedicated desks with dual monitors, and private offices.

“We have people come in, make themselves a cup of coffee, maybe have a bagel or a muffin, they’ll do their work, and then they’ll head out,” Wagner said.

All memberships include access to meeting rooms and mail services. That small detail, Wagner said, has already made a big impact for members running lean operations.

“We’ve had a couple here who said before they joined, customers and commercial mail were coming to their homes,” he explained. “They were like, ‘We don’t need that when we’re trying to run a business.’ Having a place where they can have that separation provided is really advantageous.”

A space where everyone belongs

Belong Space is still evolving, Wagner said. His team is working on a new access system to extend business hours; adding cabinetry to make the conference room more event-friendly; and community programming is also in the works, including lunch-and-learns and member-led gatherings.

While the coworking space is open to everyone, Wagner said, he’s committed to creating an atmosphere that feels truly inclusive.

“We really market towards underrepresented entrepreneurs,” he said. “Myself, I’m a LGBTQ person. Aspis Consulting is a certified LGBT business enterprise. So, we want to be a space where people that maybe feel like a big name coworking brand is overwhelming or too expensive can start out.”