Percolator to add a second co-working space in Norfolk

Developer Bobby Wright says that the 10,000-square foot Percolator co-working space in downtown Norfolk has been such a success that he is creating a second campus at 253 Monticello Ave. 

The 20,000-square-foot expansion will occupy office space on the second floor and third floors. The 70,000-square-foot building also includes space for special events and training on the first floor.

Wright opened the first 10,000-square-foot Percolator space in late 2017 at 259 Granby St.   During the past six months, the mix of entrepreneurs, startups and innovators formed a business community that is now filled to capacity, prompting Wright to add additional space.

Clients range from filmmakers to architects to cloud-based service providers. “There are big open spaces with Brooklyn-style skylights, collaboration and audio/visual rooms, ping-pong and foosball tables, desk and office spaces sized to need and mail boxes,” Wright said in a statement.

Membership in Percolator  includes access to an adjacent gym downtown plus business-to-business discounts.  Other benefits include high-speed internet, snacks, copies and freshly brewed coffee. Monthly prices range from $225 for a flex desk, $315 for a dedicated desk and $575 for office space. Prtices increase as the number of people in the group increase as well.

Business owners can rent the amount of space they need from Percolator without a long-term commitment. Wright said many businesses grow and eventually take larger spaces.

“Some of these owners started in a coffee shop and have now graduated to a multi-person office … It’s really about providing an encouraging environment for entrepreneurs to flourish,” Wright said in a statement.

Downtown Norfolk Council President and CEO Mary Miller welcomed the announcement of a second co-working space. “This concept fits perfectly with what Downtown Norfolk Council has been doing with our retail incubator in Selden Market,” she said in a statement. “A whole new business community is emerging in these spaces with an emphasis on sharing information, contacts and success.”