Coworking 24/7 club Switchyards opens Houston spot
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The landing space when you enter Switchyards in Montrose. Photo: Shafaq Patel
Switchyards, a 24/7 coworking spot, is opening its first "club" in Houston next week in Montrose.
Why it matters: The Atlanta-born concept positions itself as a "third place" — an alternative to working from home or coffee shops for remote and hybrid workers who want a regular space to plug in.
How it works: It's a membership space, so for $100 a month, members get all-hours access. They can tap in at the door of the former Buffalo Exchange on Shepherd, bring guests and use any of the company's clubs nationwide.
- Perks include free locally roasted coffee, organic tea and high-speed Wi-Fi (which Switchyards calls "dangerously fast").
- The 6,500-square-foot Houston location caps membership at 250 to prevent overcrowding.
Driving the news: Memberships for the Houston club, Switchyards' 31st nationwide, open at 10am Thursday. The club opens its doors Monday.
- A limited number of $50 "founding memberships" will be available at launch for the first sign-ups.
- The last 14 clubs sold out on launch day, per Switchyards. Waitlists open when members leave.
What they're saying: "We're really inspired by coffee shops, college libraries and boutique hotels," creative director Brandon Hinman tells Axios. "Switchyards is meant to be a third space for work, for people to connect."
- Houston is "such a dynamic, diverse city with so many people working on interesting work — it's been on our list for a long time," Hinman says, adding that Montrose's culture, local businesses and restaurants nearby made it the right fit.
The big picture: The resilience of the hybrid work model after the pandemic has ushered in a renaissance for coworking spaces. They're attractive to workers who don't want to return to the office post-pandemic but don't want to work in isolation either.
- Switchyards, founded in 2019, has grown quickly into 14 U.S. cities — including Austin and Dallas earlier this year — and says it plans to add many, many more in the coming years, with hopes of opening more locations in Houston, Hinman says.
What to expect: There are multiple seating options — from desks to sofas — to plop down and work.
- You can book one of the five soundproof phone booths or the conference room.
- A quiet room with desks offers a library-like setting for deep focus.
- Club rules (like no full meals) apply, and members can contribute to a quarterly newspaper.
If you go: 2901 S. Shepherd Dr.