TARRA: A New Way for Women to Work

TARRA women’s workspace is a new concept for connecting entrepreneurs with a community of support. Located in 9+CO—the 26-acre redevelopment of a former teaching hospital at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard—TARRA touts a modern “work club” model. Two spaces meet women where they’re at. Members can choose from an open-plan membership space with monthly memberships starting at $70 or a traditional flex office space with offices for one to five people, starting at $525, in a brand-new five-story office block.

“This space gives women permission,” says founder Kate Bailey, 45, of a mature color palette and high-end design that was intentionally crafted to appeal to women of all ages and industries, especially female leaders and business owners transitioning to a challenging growth phase or re-entering the workplace. “Too often older voices are devalued. This is a place for all generations to come together and mentor one another.”

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Men are welcome. But TARRA was designed—down to the details of stocking female-owned house brands—to support women in the areas they continue to be underserved. “Just look at the stats,” says Bailey, who experienced roadblocks firsthand as a small business owner. Only 9% of U.S. CEOs are women. Just 1.7% of woman-owned businesses make over $1 million in gross annual revenue.

“Despite efforts, the data from the last 10 years demonstrates that this is a problem that needs a different solution,” she says.

“Men have tight professional networks, but also extensive access to informal education and resource sharing. Women don’t yet have that generational strength, but there’s so much potential to create the kind of networks that advance us all.”

And that’s what TARRA plans to tap. With 12,500 square feet to create a supportive community, women will have access to daily informal networking and formal leadership workshops; intentional events designed to teach growth-oriented business strategy; open and closed meeting and communication spaces; and a hub for anchor tenant the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce to make a meaningful impact.

Approximately a third of TARRA’s 33 office spaces were leased before construction wrapped in September; a block away, women are busily occupying the work club with comfy booths, high-top tables and an open kitchen in TARRA’s flex workspace. “We’re industry agnostic,” Bailey says. Members range from postpartum care professionals to commercial real estate to law and accounting.

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Like today’s top hospitality brands, Bailey wants TARRA to cater to boutique business needs, but also feel like a home. She says, “We don’t plan to scale to the level of WeWork, but we hope to have 20 or so TARRAs around the country to create a powerful network of professional women.”