The local professional coworking space is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many coworking spaces popped up in Cincinnati and around the United States. About 331,000 Americans used coworking spaces in 2015, but, by the end of 2022, that number had tripled to 1.08 million in the U.S. alone. Worldwide, 3.1 million people were using coworking spaces at the end of 2022.

OfficeKey, though, has been operating since 1984, with its 40th anniversary this year. It was not founded in response to a pandemic, but by a former engineer that liked the idea of automating the office.

Dave Myers, founder of OfficeKey, jumped on a coworking franchising opportunity in 1984, which was then called “HQ.” “He started one of the first 20 franchises of HQ in the country,” Justin Myers, owner and general manager of OfficeKey and son of Dave Myers, says.

At the time, HQ was not considered a “coworking” space, but called “executive suites.” Over time, HQ became OfficeKey, and executive suites became known as the coworking industry.

OfficeKey is part of this industry, but according to Justin Myers, its focus is more on “proworking.”

“Coworking has an emphasis on community [and] shared space,” he adds. “We have that, but the driving force of why people come to work here is that they want to be productive, and they want to have a professional place that represents their business.”

Companies subscribe to OfficeKey rather than signing a lease, and they have a place to meet with clients, receive mail and have an office presence. “We allow companies to do that in a way that’s flexible,” Myers says.

Unlike some coworking spaces, OfficeKey is focused on coworking for businesses rather than individuals. “[OfficeKey] can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people but generally the people that it really makes sense for are people that need a place to be productive and need a place that represents them professionally,” Myers says.

While technology and the efficiency it takes to run OfficeKey has changed over the past 40 years, the way the company services its clients has not.

One thing that sets OfficeKey apart, according to Myers, is that OfficeKey offices have no distinctive branding. “We try to make it so our clients have just as much ownership of the offices as we do,” he says. “So, when their clients come to see them, they’ve got a receptionist that’s representing them, and there’s no confusion about where they’re at.”

Some amenities that OfficeKey provides include the staff receptionist. “What sets us apart is we have an amazing staff,” Myers says. “We have several people who have been with us for over 20 or 30 years. They really set the tone and know how to take care of clients.”

OfficeKey also has a beverage bar with coffee, water and tea for everybody who comes through. Conference rooms and offices can be reserved as needed with video conferencing and high-speed Wi-Fi available. “Our goal is that when people come here, they come with their laptop and that’s all they need,” Myers says.

While coworking is a wide-ranging industry with many niches, OfficeKey’s niches include lawyers, financial advisers, consultants, therapists and people who have clients coming to see them, according to Myers. One of the biggest focuses in any niche in this industry, though, must be community.

“The ‘Co’ in coworking really emphasizes community, and we absolutely have that,” Myers says. “Our community is great, and people meet new partners and friends.”

When someone is leaving OfficeKey after a long day of work, Myers hopes they leave feeling like they maximized their productivity or maximized their experience with their clients. “Productivity and professionalism are the two words we really key in on,” Myers says.

Post-COVID, Myers says that they had to adjust to the new market to remain competitive. “The silver lining has been that people want the flexibility that we are offering,” he says. “As there are more and more competitors, we recognize that most of the new entries to the market are not along the lines of what we’re providing. Our specific focus has definitely benefited us.”

While people can work from anywhere, many workers don’t jive with working from home, whether due to limited space, childcare or pets—among other distractions.

“Every single person is different, every single day is different, every single company is different,” Myers adds. “So, having options at your disposal is key.”

Myers says that while expanding OfficeKey to new locations is always “on the radar,” there are no specific plans for expansion right now. “We’ve enjoyed growing locally rather than regionally or nationally,” he adds.

With locations in Blue Ash, downtown Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Hyde Park and West Chester, there are options for professionals all over the Greater Cincinnati region to visit OfficeKey and key into success.