Update: Cove emailed DC Inno with a comment from Cove COO Nick Stafford: "Our focus is and always has been on delivering an amazing member experience. We are committed to expanding cove’s presence in Boston, and we need to do this in a way that ensures we deliver the very best member experience. We are therefore excited to open an innovative workspace that we will share with our partner Barismo, a local coffee roaster and retailer, in Kendall Square. Moving forward, we will share announcements on new, improved workspaces in Boston."
Washington, D.C.-based co-working space startup Cove is scaling back its Boston expansion, closing two recently opened spaces in the Boston Area and canceling the opening of another, according to an email sent to Cove members. That means the only Cove in Boston will be one in Kendall Square, Cambridge, which is set to open in August in partnership with a local coffee shop operator called Barismo.
Cove first started operating in Boston last year, and had made plans to grow quickly in the area. The company's email attributed the change to reassessing the needs of the Boston community. It would be surprising if it was a financial decision after the company raised $3.4 million just last month. We've reached out to Cove for comment and will update with more. The text of the email is below.
Since opening our first location in DC, cove has grown quickly, and we’ve learned a great deal about our community’s needs across DC and Boston.
We recognize that we need to significantly raise the bar on your experience. To enhance the member experience, we have made the tough decision to make an adjustment to our operations in Boston. As an interim measure, we will operate one new, high-quality workspace in Kendall Square, which is planned to open in August. We are closing cove’s Back Bay and Union Square locations. We will not be opening in the South End.
Why is cove making this decision?
As mentioned, we’ve learned a lot over the past few years, much of which comes from feedback from members like you. Through observing your interactions with the workspaces and through careful consideration of your feedback, it is our intent to secure larger spaces or operate shared spaces with key partners, such as Barismo. We believe this will optimize cove's locations to provide more places to take calls; have areas for both heads-down focus and socializing; and add secure storage for your items.
Cove's model allows us to close locations that do not maximize the member experience or prove sustainable. This is not the first time we’ve closed or relocated a space, and we learn more about our business each time. Moving forward, we will invest in larger spaces in both DC and Boston to provide the type of experience you deserve.
What does this mean for me?
Union Square’s final day will be Friday, July 29. All Union Square memberships will be paused on this date. Starting Thursday, June 30, renewals will be prorated for Union Square members.
Back Bay’s final day will be Friday, August 19. All Back Bay memberships will be paused on this date. Starting Wednesday, July 20, renewals will be prorated for Back Bay members.
We would love to have you at Kendall Square when it opens, and we would like to offer your first month at Kendall Square free of charge. Please contact Judy at judy@cove.is if you are interested.
Your membership means a great deal to us, particularly as we grow and learn, and we appreciate you learning and growing with us. We look forward to having an even stronger presence in Boston in the future. Stay tuned for updates on Kendall Square!
And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out. Questions on your membership? Email judy@cove.is. Questions about this decision? Email nick@cove.is.
Sincerely, Nick Stafford COO
