Old West Tampa building to be restored as coworking space
By Devonta Davis
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 20, 2022

COhatch, an Ohio-based company that develops shared work and social spaces, has officially closed on a site in West Tampa.

The property sits at 2112 West Main St. in the heart of the original downtown Tampa. It will be surrounded by some of the Bay area’s original cigar factories and artwork, such as the “Faces of West Tampa” mural.

The location will also be near the growing West River area, which houses restaurants, residences, and shops.

“One of the trademarks of any COhatch is a celebration of the uniqueness each community brings,” said COhatch CEO and co-founder Matt Davis in a release. “Our team heavily researches the history and culture of every neighborhood, so we can incorporate elements of it into our design and figure out how to best serve that specific community.”

To ensure the company upholds and preserves the history behind the area, it hired fifth-generation Tampa local Brian Sanders as its market leader. Sanders has worked with local businesses, communities and nonprofits for years, according to a release.

“So much of my work with nonprofits has been about engagement, connection and empowerment–helping people thrive–and I’m thrilled to be part of an organization working to bring that same servant leadership perspective to business,” said Sanders.

The organization has created an impact fund, which provides scholarships to nonprofit organizations, startup companies, entrepreneurs and civic leaders. In 2021, COhatch donated more than $550,000 in services to this fund, an amount that will increase as the company expands, according to a release.

In embracing the Tampa Bay community, the company has partnered with Bar-B-Que King, a family-owned and operated neighborhood staple that has been around for nearly 60 years. The company is working with owners Amelia Howard and her sister Tiffany Powell to refresh their brand and expand their space to include an upgraded kitchen and a seating area.

“We’re really grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Amelia, Tiffany and Bernard to dig deeper into the history of the community, restore this building and add a new hub for activity in the neighborhood,” said Sanders. “This is the first of a lot of exciting news we’re announcing in the next few months about our growth in the Tampa Bay area.”

The company hopes to have as many as 15 locations in the Tampa Bay area in the next 10 years. COhatch West Tampa is expected to open in summer 2022.