Common Desk has launched a new option for companies looking for temporary dedicated office space in areas across Dallas. The first space will debut at Dallas Startup Week’s Chase Basecamp at 1700 Pacific on Tuesday.
The concept is called Common Desk – Anywhere, a pop-up office space leased on a weekly basis. Offices are equipped with basic furniture, a conference room, shared desks, a coffee bar, chat rooms, a front desk, Internet, power supply and heating and cooling.
“The idea came from the fact that we continued to get more and more phone calls about startups wanting to launch in Dallas, bringing five, 10 and sometimes 20 people teams,” said Nick Clark, founder of Common Desk. “They need office space tomorrow, but they’re not ready to sign a long-term deal yet.”
So, with Common Desk – Anywhere’s founding landlords, 42 Real Estate, Buzzworks.us., Quadrant Investment Properties and Madison Partners, companies have the option of occupying pop-up space within a building’s vacancy. The founding landlords own more than 50 properties in downtown Dallas, Uptown, Oak Lawn, the Cedars, Deep Ellum and East Dallas.
Leases start at $1,000 a week, with negotiable terms, and spaces can be set up within two hours, thanks to Common Desk’s custom line of furniture that can be assembled without power tools.
A relocation clause gives property owners the right to lease the space that may be occupied by Common Desk clients to long-term tenants. In this case, Common Desk would relocate its tenant to one of the other vacancies. Common Desk and property owners will share the revenue.
“It puts the power back in the hands of landlords,” Clark said, adding that the option provides landlords a chance to capitalize on vacancies, while providing clients dedicated space. “We hope the natural progression will be that they fall in love with that neighborhood, that building and sign a long-term deal there.”
For Common Desk, which has a location in Deep Ellum and Oak Cliff, the option gives the company more visibility as well as additional revenue.
“We’re trying to figure out how we can continue to grow even though we’re full,” he said. “This allows us to make money outside the four walls of our locations.”
Common Desk receives inquiries that could fit this option two to four times a month. With the pop-up space, the company can now send overflow groups to dedicated space while promoting its brand and its partnering properties.
Clark said he’s currently negotiating his first deal, which could turn into the company’s first Anywhere client as soon as Dallas Startup Week ends. Common Desk is still working on obtaining additional partnerships with area landlords.
