Tacoma, Wash.-based entrepreneur Reid Fetters has brought his coworking brand UrbanWork to downtown Portland, Ore., opening his third flex work location on the second floor of the Bullier Building at 420 SW Washington St.
Fetters, an architect by training, partnered with building owner Jeff Mincheff of J Squared Investments through his firms FC Group and JCR Collective to renovate the floor, which now houses coworking suites and private offices. Members get 24/7 access; fast and secure Wi-Fi; conference rooms with video conferencing; and mail and package handling with a professional business address. Perks include a golf simulator; pool tables; daily snacks; and craft coffee, tea and beer. Membership plans start at $105 per month and exceed $650 at the top tier.
The opening coincides with the relaunch of Kelly’s Olympian, Portland’s oldest dive bar and a ground-floor tenant since 1902. The partners upgraded the bar’s infrastructure while preserving its character.
“Kelly’s didn’t die, but it had its struggles during the pandemic like many other businesses in Portland,” Fetters said in a statement for Portland Business Journal. “We went in to prepare it for the next season of Portland so we can try to get more things happening downtown.”
The Portland project is not Fetters’ and Mincheff’s first collaboration. Their partnership began in Tacoma, Wash., home to the first two UrbanWork sites. There, Fetters also launched Rising Cities, a program featuring founder and operator discussions on economic development, along with mentorship for students and emerging entrepreneurs. He plans to introduce the series in Portland, Ore., in January.
The Bullier Building, owned by Mincheff since 2005, sits across from the vacant Washington Mall and is within walkable distance of MAX light rail, several restaurants and the Pearl District. A few blocks away, investor Jeff Swickard has acquired Big Pink and the Five Oak building.
“Our goal is to support downtown and work with businesses and landlords to figure out how to bring Portland back,” Fetters said. “We want to be a part of what’s been happening already and give more people reasons to come back downtown.”
