'Neighborhood work club' Switchyards to open Asheville location: Here's what to know
Switchyards describes itself as a "neighborhood work club." Now, a new location is coming to an Asheville neighborhood.
There are currently 17 Switchyards coworking locations, with Asheville and Greenville, South Carolina, set to join the roster within the next month. CEO and founder Michael Tavani told the Citizen Times that a few simple factors went into the choice to open a new location in Asheville.
"We think about cities that are rich in history, rich in culture, but then a lot of people that are potentially working hybrid or remote," Tavani said. "And Asheville is a city where a lot of people live there and don't necessarily go into the office every day."
More: Answer Woman: No laptop policy at a bookstore, café?
What is Switchyards?
The Switchyards website describes it as a lot of things. A gym for the mind, a third place for work — and the first of its kind. But what do the locations actually offer?
Tavani described Switchyards as a "mashup of a coffee shop, a great hotel lobby and a library." The locations really are an eclectic blend of very different environments. Switchyards Asheville will feature two separate spaces to facilitate two different workplace styles.
Library: The "library" space is intended to serve as a quiet area for deep focus. "No phone calls, no Zoom, no talking, and we even pipe in white noise," Tavani said. "And it's very much meant to be heads down, focus for a couple of hours."
Cafe: On the other end of the spectrum, Switchyards locations - Asheville included - feature a more energetic "cafe" area better suited for collaboration. "You can leave that library and go to another part of Switchyards, and it's super buzzy and vibrant," Tavani said. "And that's kind of the high, low."
The idea of this high-low contrast designed to suit a wide variety of work styles is one that Tavani designated as one of his favorite parts of Switchyards spaces, and a feature that makes the locations truly unique as hubs for remote work.
"Some people like the quiet, some people like the buzzier, and some people like both within like one setting," Tavani said.
More: Study: Asheville top 10 highest move-in rates in US; Carolinas displace Florida as top destination
How much does Switchyards cost?
With the "8 days for $12" deal, new members are charged $12 for an eight-day trial of Switchyards facilities. After the eight days are up, monthly dues are $100 per month.
Members of the Asheville Switchyards are also eligible for a special rate: $50 per month for the first year. Only 50 of these special memberships are available, with registration for the spots opening Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.
More: Entirely affordable housing project proposed off Brevard Road; received city, county loans
What's the point of coworking?
Tavani said that, when his team opened their first coworking space in Atlanta around 10 years ago, they were observing the very beginning of a remote work revolution. Switchyards offered a space for remote workers beyond coffee shops and living rooms.
"We basically decided to create a gym membership, but for for work instead of exercising," Tavani said. "Just a place that you can reliably go designed for work. Not to be an office replacement, not to be like a place that you go for 40 hours a week, but to be this place that you switch it up, you know, get out of your house, work around people."
More: No leggings, no crop tops: North Carolina restaurant's dress code has the internet talking
Where is the Asheville Switchyards location? When does Switchyards open?
The new location is located at 217 Coxe Ave. It is set to open Sept. 19, with a free "test drive" day Sept. 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Interested parties can visit the new location, drink unlimited Cooperative Coffee and Rishi tea, and get some work done. From 5-7 p.m., the space will also host a party featuring local partners Burial Brewery and Archetype Brewery.
More: Asheville council adopts 10-year Parks and Rec plan. What are the top priorities?
Switchyards amenities
The Asheville Switchyards website lists features and amenities of the space. Included on the list are:
One meeting room and four soundproof phone booths bookable at no extra cost to members.
Open 24/7.
Bottomless coffee and tea.
Fast internet.
Generous guest policy.
Access to all Switchyards clubs.
"No less than 137 lamps."
And, of course, perhaps the quintessential amenity Switchyards is intended to provide: "Not your house."
More: Asheville Fair Market Rent decreases 10% for 2025 as new area apartments arrive
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: What is Switchyards? Here's what to know about new Asheville location
