Where American Social Clubs End And Coworking Begins

Social clubs were once seen as a relic of the past, but are now regaining life thanks to the uprise in members-only spaces for professionals.

Coworking spaces offer a sense of community similar to a social club, while offering carefully curated design and amenities to cater to a specific audience. The current 14,000 coworking spaces worldwide is expected to expand even further as the prospect of networking outside of your profession becomes much more attainable.

Female-centric coworking company The Wing is a prime example of how the resurgence of social clubs is just as valuable now as it was back in its heyday.

“Our idea was to resurrect (the concept of the women’s club) for modern women. The difference between women today and women a hundred years ago is that women today work,” said The Wing cofounder Audrey Gelman. “We wanted it to be a place where they could quit their white collar jobs and go for their dreams and start companies together.”

Still, social clubs were once typically free to join, while many coworking spaces come with a price tag and run as practical businesses. This makes accessibility hard as it instantly targets people of a similar socioeconomic class.

To operate coworking spaces, firms must charge a membership fee, and to make the membership worthwhile, firms must include amenities and services that make for a unique work experience.

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