TableSpace to Open in Osborne Village

Osborne Village continues to transform as businesses and landlords who once shaped the street in 1970s begin to sell or close their shops and lease to new people to take us into the 2020s. It hasn't always been easy as retail on the street and within malls has been revolutionized by the Internet. Despite a dense population in the village business people have found it a challenge to draw traffic, pay high rent and keep up. In New York it is called Luxury Blight. It is when some posh shops come in that push up the rent and then leave when they fall out of fashion. Somehow the rent stays too high.

Restaurants and some retail have shied away from jumping back in to spaces that have high overheads. This has led to the opening of two fitness centers Shapes and Anytime that serve the growing residential population. Cannabis shops have also found that their business model allows multiple retail spots along the street. The types of shops that have left though are businesses such as Oxford at the corner of Gertrude.

So what do you do with what seem like amazing spaces in a world where street retail and restaurants have changed so much? Not everything can be a fitness center although it does seem like that lately with multiple openings. The answer it seems might be shared space, particularly work spaces. And who not? With so many people living in the area many have their own businesses alongside other professional endeavours. Working from home is an option but sometimes you just need space and the traditional options don't work.

At the site of where Oxford used to be at 196 Osborne, TableSpace is being setting up by the two female entrepreneurs with an opening targeted for August. However, with all the Canada day celebrations going on July 1st, the new owners, Rachel and Andrea will be showing off renderings and giving tours. From 10 till 4, they will explain how the 2015 Harvard Business Review inspired them with an article on the gig economy and how curated co-working business spaces were where entrepreneurs and freelancers were going. Such spaces have emerged in Winnipeg in the downtown and suburbs with a focus in some cases on manufacturing.

The Osborne Village though is not known offices although at one time in the 1980s there were several. In recent years though, the need for some kind of business center has grown. Moreover, ones that have amenities such as coffee, WIFI, printers, lockers and the like are just no where to be found. Having female friendly ones is like finding a unicorn. The opportunity to create a networking environment for work and a social setting was very compelling to the TableSpace owners.

"TableSpace will give entrepreneurs a place to get from distractions and focus on their goals, whatever they might be," explained Rachel.

"We want to touch on self-care needs as well. We want to help our members achieve the work-life balance that they are dreaming of," Andrea added.

With meeting and boards, podcasting studio and desk space and office amenities mixed in with future wellness programs and yoga, the space at 196 Osborne could be a wellspring of future business start-ups in the city and new network of female entrepreneurs.

Look for Andrea and Rachel from 10 AM till 4 PM Canada Day and we'll keep track of their official opening.