Workbar Isn’t Just About Desks: Making Work Work, CEO Series Vol. 2

We say this all the time: Workbar is more than just desks and WiFi. But don’t just take it from me, here’s what one of our members said (completely unprovoked): “Workbar isn’t just about desks. The real Workbar is about intellectual capacity.”

Mic drop.

It’s not magic. We’re just not selling a workspace frozen in 2018, one that lures you in with inflated amenities, only to leave you uninspired once you’re through the door. Our members are here for the people around them, the ideas sparked from bumping and connecting, and the way the space makes them feel sharper, more supported, more connected.

Here’s the problem with most offices:
They were built for the wrong audience.

Over the past few years, landlords and execs have chased flashy amenities and rigid RTO mandates, trying to "win back" employees with juice bars, nap pods, and even pools. But here’s the truth: No one wants to swim with their coworkers at lunch. It’s lazy. It’s out of touch.

RTO strategies more often than not reflect leadership priorities, not the realities of the workforce that use the space on a day to day basis. One demographic in a boardroom deciding what will motivate an entirely different one. Why are we shocked it hasn’t worked?

What actually brings people back?
A space that is centered around real humans. Purpose. Flexibility. Inclusivity.

And that’s what we build at Workbar.

What Happens When People Feel Ownership Over Their Space?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as CEO of Workbar is this: When people feel like they belong, they act like they own the place, and that’s a good thing.

Our members pick up after themselves. They show new folks around. They follow the community norms. If someone forgets the no-speakerphone rule in the Café? They give a friendly nudge, or trust us to do it.

That kind of behavior doesn’t come from a rulebook.
It comes from culture.
And culture only happens when leadership shows up.

Leading by Coworking

Workbar leaders don’t cut a ribbon at the grand opening and then disappear. We’re there, working right alongside our members. Same Zoom calls. Same desks. Same anger when someone microwaves fish for lunch.

It’s how we stay close to the experience. It’s how we know when someone’s camped out in the phone booth too long or monopolizing a meeting room. And we don’t wait, we step in.

You can’t fake authenticity.

When I ride the elevator at one of our locations  and someone presses the button for the Workbar floor, I ask how long they’ve been coming and if they’ve found their groove. This happens almost every single day. And without fail, they’re surprised when we walk through the front door and the Community Manager says, “Oh—you met Sarah, our CEO!” That moment always makes them smile and I know I’ve just made a new friend.

At Workbar, we’re embedded. It’s what makes our model work.

Flexibility Means Fixing Things, Fast

When we were designing Workbar Downtown in 2018, I was dead set on removing the front desk so our Community Manager could work in the space, just like our members.

Spoiler: bad idea.

Turns out, people like being welcomed. They want someone to greet them, answer questions, and help them feel seen. Even our Community Manager spoke up and said, “Great idea on paper, but not so great in real life.” And she was right. So, we pivoted. Fast. That’s the beauty of acting like a startup even when you’re a well established, 15 year old company. You don’t need a committee to fix something, you just do it.

Culture Isn’t Mandated. It’s Modeled.

The problem with most RTO plans? They feel inauthentic.

Our members don’t have to force their team into a Workbar. We build environments people want to return to, because they support how people live.

Carrots over sticks. Always.

People don’t come back because they have to.
They come back because it works.

Because they can focus, connect, and actually get things done.
Because the community is welcoming, the expectations are clear, and the environment just works. So well, in fact, that even Workbar runs from Workbar.

Making Work… Work

When a space works for its people, it shows.
Members wipe down whiteboards. Lower their voices. Flag problems. Share ideas.

That loop, between members and leadership, between observation and action, is what makes Workbar feel different.

We don’t just rent desks. We build human-first workspaces, one authentic interaction at a time.

Because people aren’t looking to return to the office. They’re looking for a better workday.  And that’s what we provide.