A neighborhood work club start-up based in Atlanta has its sights set on wide growth.
Switchyards has announced they are aiming to open 200 locations over the next five years, and they have $5 million in capital to help.
The venture capital investment was led by Bullpen Capital, joined by existing investor Cercano and with participation from Overline.
According to Forbes, 62 percent of companies offered hybrid work options in November 2023, giving employees options outside the office. Switchyards is “reimagining work with consumer preferences in mind, creating members-only work clubs for focused, productive work around others,” according to the company’s announcement.
Switchyards first opened in Downtown Atlanta in 2016. There are now ten locations in metro Atlanta, as well as several in Nashville. Two locations are also planned for Charlotte. The company plans to have 10 more clubs open by the end of 2024, and metro Atlanta is one of several areas they are targeting for more locations.
Switchyards members have 24/7 access to all clubs, which include cafes, library areas and meeting rooms. Fast internet and unlimited coffee and tea are available. A membership costs $100 per month.
And don’t expect a cold, sterile office; the clubs go for a cozy coffee-shop vibe, placing a focus on unique buildings with character, like the Midtown location at the historic Biltmore Hotel, which opened earlier this year. They aim to open in residential neighborhoods, making the average transit time to the clubs only nine minutes.
“We all know that work is changing – this is a generational consumer shift,” founder and CEO Michael Tavani said in the announcement. “For the first time in history, the consumer is choosing how they want to work. So we’re creating spaces for this future of work.”
