Left with some unused square footage after a tenant left, the owners of the Ocean Beach Business Center are launching their own co-working space.
“We have heard tons of excitement about it,” Chris Peregoy said. “So many people are telling us, OB needs this.”
Peregoy owns the business center along with his wife Jo.
He said they wanted to grow as a business and the only way to do that was to expand and occupy the whole space. Previously the business center subleased a portion of the property to the Lazy Hummingbird Cafe. He said they thought about opening their own coffee shop after deciding not to renew the cafe’s lease but ultimately decided to stick with what they know.
“People look at us as a one-stop-shop anyway,” he said. “Tons of people already use our private mailboxes, so now, we can offer a place for people to work without the distractions that can come with working from home.”
Peregoy recognized there are other co-working spaces available in San Diego that are able to offer top-notch spaces, but said, “we provide the OB version. People say if they don’t have to leave the bubble they won’t.”
The co-working space opened earlier this month. He said they haven’t had “a lot of butts in the seats yet,” but people have been stopping by to check it out.
Renting a space for the month costs $275. Full and half-day rentals are also available. Renting comes with free WiFi, unlimited access to some services at the business center (scanning, copying, faxing and black and white printing) and unlimited coffee, tea, water and snacks.
The new space also offers a podcast room that is available to rent.
“In the back of the building, we have an office that we sound-treated,” Peregoy said. “We have some microphones and recording software and chairs. Anyone can save the recording with a flash drive and take it with them.”
A week into social distancing practices due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Peregoy said launching a new business is “certainly scary,” but “at the end of the day it’s all about the cleanliness of the space.”
Ultimately, Peregoy said he wants this to be more than just a co-working space. He and his wife envision it being for business during the day and the community at night.
“We want to turn it into a space for family and community functions too,” he said. “We are thinking about family craft nights or even a Bob Ross painting night for adults.” Lynn Walsh is a freelance journalist and an Obecian. She works to promote trust between journalists and the public through the Trusting News project and teaches at Point Loma Nazarene University. Originally from Ohio, Lynn has grown to love living at the beach and posts way too many San Diego sunset photos on Instagram.
