Phil Castle, The Business Times

Brian Watson knows what it’s like to work remotely — days spent at home in pajamas with no clear boundaries between the times on and off the clock. “It can become all-consuming.” 

That can make it a relief, Watson says, to go a place that’s more like an office — one that promotes a more productive effort and offers interactions with real live people. No Zoom required.

Watson and his wife, Bonnie, operate five coworking spaces in Western Colorado that cater not only to entrepreneurs starting ventures, but also to what they say is the growing number of remote workers who’ve moved to the region and are looking for an alternative to working from home.

In the process, Bonnie Watson says they’re promoting connections that in turn promote business development in the region.

The Watsons are co-founders and co-owners of Alt Space and operate two coworking spaces in Grand Junction as well as spaces in Montrose, Ridgway and Telluride. 

They purchased three of the coworking operations from Proximity, including the former Factory coworking space in the Maverick Innovation Center at Colorado Mesa University. They opened two more spaces — one in Telluride and one at 750 Main St. in downtown
Grand Junction.

The Watsons bring to the venture experience in managing coworking spaces and business development.

Brian was among the founders of Launch West CO in Grand Junction and was involved in opening the Factory coworking space when it was located downtown. He also was among the founders of and still works for Proximity, which provides software to manage coworking spaces, including access, conference room scheduling, event management, internet access and membership billing. More than 450 coworking spaces now use the software, he says.

Bonnie works as director of the Telluride Venture Network. She manages a mentor network, bootcamps, regional loan and venture funds as well as works with small businesses and startups in Southwest Colorado.

Bonnie says the couple launched Alt Space as a matter of necessity. A coworking space in Telluride closed and there was a need for a similar type of facility. Moreover, they were familiar with those operations. “That’s kind of what we do.”

When the opportunity arose, they purchased the three coworking operations from Proximity, then opened the second Grand Junction location in August.

The Watsons run one the first fully automated operations of its kind in the country, Brian says.

Alt Space uses Proximity software to handle most functions — from memberships to access to coworking spaces to scheduling the use of conference rooms. Bonnie says members sign up online and like the self-help model.

The Watsons employ a virtual assistant who provides customer service. They also exchange memberships with people who serve as ambassadors at the coworking locations.

Those locations offer places to work, including dedicated desks, offices and conference rooms. Small rooms are available for more privacy for telephone calls. The locations also offer high-speed internet access and unlimited free coffee. 

Rates for use vary from a daily drop-in rate of $30 during business hours to a $149 monthly flex rate that offers round-the-clock access. Dedicated desks are available for $299 a month. Offices start at $650 a month. Memberships afford access to all the locations.

Alt Space will offer what the Watsons have dubbed remote work Mondays in November to let people try out the coworking spaces for free.

In addition to a place to work, Alt Space offers connections among members, the Watsons say.

A company might need a computer programmer or graphic designer for a project and find a member with those skills.  

Connections also can lead to other collaborations and even new business ventures, Bonnie says. That promotes economic development and diversity as well as strengthens a more regional approach. “It’s really to connect people across the Western Slope.”

While coworking spaces offer a place to work for entrepreneurs and professionals starting ventures, they’ve become increasingly popular among people who’ve been working remotely since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Watsons say.

Most Alt Space members are remote workers who’ve recently moved to Western Colorado, they say. No longer tied to an office building or even a city, they’ve come to the Western Slope in search of smaller communities and a higher quality of life, she says. “We have people literally from everywhere,” Brian says.

Coworking spaces not only promote more productive efforts, but also offers a clearer delineation between work and home. 

As their coworking spaces fill, the Watsons say they’ll consider adding additional locations — but likely through management agreements with others. They say their more interested in managing the business rather than properties.

For now, though, they’re eager to offer an alternative to working from home and help their members make connections.