New co-working space finds perfect downtown home

The old Pizitz department store downtown was a popular gathering spot for decades. And since its recent $70 million renovation by Bayer Properties, The Pizitz — now featuring offices, retail and apartments — has once again become a popular destination in an increasingly business-friendly downtown.

It’s also the spot for Forge, a new co-working space that opened on the mezzanine level above the bustling Pizitz Food Hall on Sept. 5, according to the facility’s CEO and founder, Kim Lee.

“The Pizitz is an amazing building, and I’m so honored to be a part of it and part of that central hub for downtown,” said Lee, a business consultant.

Forge includes 18 private offices, three conference rooms and shared workspaces for up to 130 members.

Lee hopes to connect entrepreneurs, who are sometimes isolated when working at home, with opportunities to grow their businesses.

The facility, which Lee is completing in three phases, measures about 12,000 square feet. The first phase is 5,600 square feet with a kitchen, a conference room, four private offices and some of the co-working space, according to Lee, who said she has about 40 tenants so far.

There are several membership plans available, most based on the amount of time per week that tenants intend to use the facility. For more information, go to workatforge.com.