Coworking Spaces

Posted on October 29, 2021January 16, 2024 by digitalgear

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By Ben Sanchez

On the busy cross street of San Joaquin and Weber, Eric Bodary, Facility Operations Manager for Huddle x Launch Pad, stands at the front of the Belding building expecting packages for clients. As we exchange greetings, Bodary suggests the second floor space for work. “You’ve got everything you need with a break room, bathroom, and conference room on the same floor,” he says. We walk through the lobby and take the elevator up to the main floor of Huddle x Launch Pad.

Conveniently, the mosaic patterned pathway I follow down the hall on the second floor stops at the entrance of the open coworking space. Small painted fingers along the wall point the way to the conference room, lockers, and printers. The large space on the second floor has several tables spread out with chairs, a printer station, and one dark green couch complete with pillows and a coffee table. Geometric painted designs dance across the walls underneath bright dangling light bulbs. This mixture of old and new decor resonate warm feelings that is begging for a rug to “really tie the room together.”

Something Old, Something New.

This month I decided to spend some time working out of a coworking space in downtown Stockton. The Belding Building, built in 1915, is a five-story structure named after Charles Belding, a farmer, businessman, and former mayor of Stockton. Today, the renovated building is quiet on the second floor. I place my backpack on the table and start setting up for work. I find myself at ease when trying to write content, as sunbeams from the window warm my table. Bodary stops by to find out what else I need before I start the day.

The second floor has several windows overlooking downtown Stockton, which only get better as you head to the fourth floor. The photography studio up on the fourth floor offer a room for creatives to capture incredible shots with natural lighting coming from windows along the east and north walls. With a variety of eating spots and coffee shops within walking distance, the location is ideal for running out to grab a quick coffee before heading back to work. Bodary was kind enough to watch my bag as I ventured out to pick up food.

He schedules me into the conference room and within a few minutes, I’m on the calendar for my next Zoom meeting. The large room is more than accommodating for my particular needs. For a team, it is the perfect space to meet with a modern conference table and chairs in the middle of the room. A bright orange bicycle hangs in the corner, as if it wanted to ride up along the wall. White boards have notes scrawled in marker from previous discussions and a large, flatscreen TV can be synced up for digital presentations and Zoom calls. With no one scheduled for the conference room, I had enough time to prepare my set up for a few back to back calls before heading back out to the coworking space.

Flexible.

Each floor offers something unique. I bounced around a few floors to get a feel of what is available. Open space. Private space. Private offices can outfit their space to accommodate their needs. I found lockers in another area for individuals looking to store personal items with their own lock and key. Art and photographs hang on walls on the first floor with a podcast room hiding old vinyl records on shelves and a small neon ‘On Air’ sign. Before the recording studio was developed, I recorded a podcast on the third floor. That episode yearned for a podcast studio, but now the space has one available for individuals to create content. The first floor amenities offer another layer to the already developed space inside Huddle x Launch Pad. The fourth floor lobby greets visitors with art and plant life before the elevators arrive to escort me to the next floor. Buttons light up with a loud ding signaling my arrival back to the coworking space.

Throughout the day, people walk up and down hallways to private offices. Members have keycard access to the building and work out of offices between the 2nd and 4th floors. Delivery drivers and mail carriers drop off items at the front desk. Huddle x Launch Pad can accommodate clients who are not available for pick up and store packages until they arrive on-site.

Did you know?

A new bike rack was installed right outside the Belding Building. This artistic bike rack installation could be the first of many in downtown Stockton.

Award Tour with Matt Amen.

Tours are available to schedule online and most freelancers like to work on the second floor for a day to get acclimated with the space. I’ve only visited a few floors on my visit to Launch Pad, but continue to return for the amenities offered when I need more flexible space or stability on a Zoom call (Dropped calls happen more than you think). Overall, it was a great experience to be back in a coworking environment. Huddle x Launch Pad is relatively flexible with what floor you prefer and I think once the ground floor renovations are complete, entrepreneurs can look forward to working out of another, large coworking space in downtown Stockton.

Vlog Series: Special Delivery

Posted on October 22, 2021December 6, 2024 by digitalgear

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By Ben Sanchez

Throughout our adventures in downtown Stockton, we prepare to meet entrepreneurs opening their doors on a Friday afternoon. This Friday is different from the normal Friday because it is a ‘Fired Friday.’ Fired Mobile Pizza mysteriously rolls up to the front of the Sycamore in downtown to offer an alternative lunch special to local workers and community members.

On this particular outing, we thought it would be appropriate to give our intern some practice with the camera. We had him follow us around downtown and capture footage of our walk over to the Sycamore.

The Sycamore is a venue space with this semi-rustic feel when you step into the building. Located on Weber Avenue, Stockton natives might remember the venue as The Plea for Peace Center that promoted all types of rock shows and community events in downtown. Today, Fired Pizza occupies the parking lot space just outside the Sycamore. Large iron gates roll away as setup begins for the lunch crowd on Friday.

Fired Mobile Pizza.

Jason and I got a message from Daniel Correa, owner of Fired Mobile Pizza, about doing some pizza delivery work. When we arrived at the parking lot, all of us ordered our own Neapolitan Artisan Style Pizza. The truck, like any great food truck in Stockton, has a loyal fan base monitoring their next popup location across the city.

We introduced Nessie Huffhines, owner of FarOut Foliage, to the pizza spot for the vegetarian options they offer to customers. Once the fire was lit, pies were flying into boxes and prepped for delivery.

We dropped by two specific locations for each delivery. Uniqo Salon on California Street and Plaza Perks inside Courthouse Plaza.

None of this was scheduled to be a part of the vlog and happened about 30 minutes before we were preparing to shoot content.

I love the spontaneity of the vlog. I think this is genuinely the best part for Jason and I because it keeps us on our toes. Creatively, it allows us to develop and showcase the experiences you see downtown in the vlog.

UNIQO.

Patty Ayala, owner of Uniqo, knew ahead of time we were dropping by with pizza for her staff. Since Jason is a super fan at Uniqo, he dialed up Patty to give her a heads up on the delivery drop at noon.

Plaza Perks.

Plaza Perks had no clue we were dropping off pies. The staff was genuinely surprised and I think everyone that played the part, delivered in spades. I even got to say hello to the Executive Director of Parents by Choice, Tony Yadon. We caught the staff at the right time during a team meeting. I offered some fun facts about Fired Pizza before they opened the boxes to get a whiff of the amazing, specialty pizza.

Support Local.

I think the importance of these experiences show you the people behind the counter and connect us with entrepreneurs in our community. The key element for small businesses is the people. The clients get a sense of the entrepreneurs behind the brand. You learn who they are and hopefully, you stay to listen to their story. They are trying to build lifelong relationships with you. If I feel welcome at these establishments and get a sense of belonging, I most likely will return to grab a coffee, eat a sandwich, get a haircut, and watch a musician perform in downtown Stockton (Not particularly in that order).

Overall, our experience was positive. When you support local businesses, you do more than just buy a product or service — you help build their dream. These people take risks everyday to chase the dream, develop it, and execute their lifelong plans. Most of the time, we are all along for the ride. I can tell you first hand when I started writing about students at University of the Pacific, I never thought that hands-on experience with the marketing team at Thomas J. Long school of Pharmacy would lead me to the coworking and startup culture. I was honing my craft in small increments and learned about entrepreneurship. Adding skills to the toolkit, as my professor would tell me. My writing would lead to developing small business articles in San Joaquin County.

Thanks for sharing!

My goal was always to listen, create, and deliver the best story for each entrepreneur. I was merely the passenger working alongside these individuals to get that story to a larger platform.

They all have stories to tell, we just need to take the time to listen. While all the compliments I received about my work from experienced writers have been positive, the best compliment is directly from the individual I interviewed for the story. The people who struggled to maintain the business. The people who, despite everyone telling them no, went ahead with their plan and did it anyway. The people who followed their passion to develop an idea and push it out into the world. Thank you for taking the time to share your stories with me. Without you, there would be no story.

Guest Appearances

Nessie Huffhines, owner of FarOut Foliage
Daniel Correa, owner of Fired Mobile Pizza
Patty Ayala, owner of UNIQO
Plaza Perks staff
Jason Millner – University of the Pacific alumni, UNIQO Top Fan
Renee Icasiano – University of the Pacific alumni
Ben Sanchez – University of the Pacific alumni

Dealerz Choice: Vibrant Makers

Posted on October 6, 2021 by digitalgear

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By Ben Sanchez

Colorful clouds hang from the ceiling inside the Dealerz Choice store tucked away behind the Plaza Perks Cafe on the main floor of the Courthouse Plaza. The cloud colors cycle through blues, purples, and greens.

A projection screen flickers with pop culture content on the empty back wall of the shop. Rows of collectables sit side by side on shelves and vibrant colored custom apparel hang on clothes racks inside the space.

The Courthouse Plaza vibes are different nowadays in downtown Stockton. You can feel it when you swing the double doors open with an aroma of coffee and food lingering in the air. The bleeps and bloops of arcade noises emanate from the lower level. Yes, an actual arcade space is active on the lower level of the Courthouse Plaza with a painted mural on the wall. Random canvas art fills the lobby next to old photographs of downtown. There is a lot of history along these walls.

Businesses are open to sell their wares and services with decals spread across display windows. The hallway pinboard is filled with flyers promoting the latest events throughout the downtown area. A line of people wait to grab coffee to go and others, like myself, just happen to stumble into a unique interior mall structure in the heart of downtown Stockton.

Meet Michael Allen, Owner of Dealerz Choice.

From the outside, you would think walking through the doors lead to one main floor as you enter the building. The plaza is actually a 3 tiered building with lower and upper levels for office and work space. Michael Allen, owner of Dealerz Choice, hangs up new tie dye shirts and hoodies on the clothes rack. “How’s it going?” says Allen. We sat down to talk about the name and concept of Dealerz Choice.

The shop is not just selling collectables. The idea is to provide a platform to makers and artisans who have no storefront and give them a space to showcase their products.

Allen has been an entrepreneur all his life. When he started thinking about a business, he teamed up with local maker/artist, Alexander Garza, to develop an idea for a storefront that encapsulated all of their interests. With Garza creating art, they thought a co-op space for makers would be an ideal choice in downtown Stockton. “We needed a tangible space to show off what we can do — I wanted a space to show what he (Alex) can do. We had something to work toward and build on rather than do everything at home,” says Allen.

What is Dealerz Choice? Watch the video here!

https://youtu.be/SrxRh68wSNg

Pop-up shop.

With new ownership at The Courthouse Plaza in downtown Stockton, Allen inquired about a new space opening on the main floor. “The Courthouse Plaza is a really great space — a cool atmosphere being renovated with major changes coming up for the building,” says Allen. Eventually, Dealerz Choice appeared like a rolling cloud, similar to the decor hanging from the ceiling.

Allen shared his vision for the business and along with Garza, they create a positive atmosphere in the downtown scene and within the Courthouse Plaza. “There is a lot of foot traffic happening downtown and we want to help add to that with what we do here in our space,” says Garza.

The business provides a fresh perspective with the pop-up shop trend. However, the pop-up shop is here to stay. Makers and artisans constantly seek new avenues to locate spaces to sell wares and build brand awareness. A temporary pop-up for a maker can be a great stepping stone to owning a brick and mortar. Now that all the cards are in place, Dealerz Choice can offer the space to makers. “We want to be the place for local artists and vendors,” says Allen. “Vendors pay a monthly fee to utilize the space and we help promote their brand.” The businesses downtown, specifically with retail shopping, continue to see consistent growth in the surrounding area of the Courthouse Plaza. Ideally, Allen is looking to collaborate with as many individuals who are interested in being a part of the revitalization in downtown.

Onomatopoeia.

Customers may inquire about the cloud decor in the shop (they make custom clouds to order), but the logo is actually an onomatopoeia.

It is a jumble of all the things we are into. A little bit of everything.
It is eye-catching.
Michael Allen

Why downtown Stockton?

The Courthouse Plaza was a great opportunity to create a space here for vendors. We have amazing potential for future events in downtown.

How can the community support you?

Reach out to us on social media and stop by the shop. Stay in contact and share our upcoming events and vendor pop-ups.

How did you come up with the name of the business?

Dealerz Choice was kind of a joke at first, but we ran with it. The z is a trendy, retro thing. We were into shapes and the organization of letters.

There is a lot of foot traffic happening downtown and we want to help add to that with what we do here in our space.
Alexander Garza

Vendor pop-up.

Did you know you could pop-up at Dealerz Choice?

“I want to continue providing a phsyical space for vendors and makers,” Allen says. While Dealerz Choice has only been open a few months, the shop hosted a large vendor pop-up on Stocktoncon weekend, collaborate with artists for a launch party, and continue the momentum by promoting future events at Courthouse Plaza.

Address: 306 E. Main St. STE 208
Phone: 209.353.9004
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Friday

Vlog Series: Sayonara

Posted on October 5, 2021 by digitalgear

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By Ben Sanchez

As the season changes, the leaves flutter in the wind across downtown Stockton. The air surrounding us shifts as we move in a different direction this month. The last episode with our influencer, Renee Icasiano, comes to an end on the vlog. My original pitch of 7 episodes for a vlog with an influencer was successful only to a point. Renee was only going to be a part of 4 episodes before we moved in a different direction with our final 3 episodes.

Hopefully, all of you have enjoyed what we put together over the summer. There was a lot of great talent involved creating this project. We did some fine tuning to our introduction and the flow of episodes synced up to create new content for downtown. I picked music that would be copyright friendly (Thanks Otis McDonald!), but also encompass the vibe of what we were looking for with the vlog. In each episode, not only did we highlight small businesses in downtown, we got to meet new people building something great in our city. Before we say goodbye, I want to give you some ‘behind the scenes’ and share a brief story with you about Renee.

Renee Icasiano.

Renee was always my first choice as an influencer because she lived in Stockton, built a great rapport in the community, and continues to be a positive influence with her brand. She checked a lot of the boxes I was looking for not because of her experience in Stockton, but her familiarity in front of the camera as a performer.

Renee and I initially met back in 2009 at University of the Pacific in Communication. Our mutual, late friend, Angela Karim, made the introduction, but we never did cross paths again until 2017. Renee moved on and served in the Army for 4 years right after we met in 2009.

Around 2017, I assisted my artist friend at a local event in downtown Stockton. The event promoted local artists, musicians, and small businesses. One of the performers on stage was Renee. I saw this woman in heels wearing an elegant outfit step onto the stage at Channel Brew Company to perform music. I recognized her voice during the introduction and to my surprise, she started performing hip hop.

After her performance, she purchased some art from my friend and I went to reintroduce myself. Since then, we reconnected and worked on several projects together throughout the Stockton area.

With an elegance and professionalism that is unmatched in the 209, she required little direction from me on how to approach the vlog. She understood the vision of where we wanted to take each episode. I valued her creative input when we reviewed content, and we often had great synergy on the places we wanted to visit throughout our 4 episodes together.

I brought along a great group of people on this journey. Each of them contributed to what you see on YouTube. This was not a project developed solely by one person. There were roadblocks and challenges we met along the way, but we slowly overcame them in each episode.

Not only do we bid adieu to Renee, but we also say sayonara to Jason Millner.

Jason Millner.

Jason was the ‘man behind the cam.’ My professor told me once in my studies that certain individuals have the eye for camera work.

You can’t teach it. You either have it or you don’t.

I can definitely tell you after working with a few skilled videographers that Jason has ‘the eye’ for it.

The shift in marketing this past Spring left Jason wondering what type of work the department would produce moving forward.

I still laugh when we had our initial conversation about pitching the vlog, developing reels, and fine tuning the Doorways to Downtown episodes. He told me he thought he would have to ‘carry the new guy’ over the summer.

With only five months of working together, I can say it was an honor to work with Jason on this project. I am not the only one that can say that either.

Several people downtown who got to know Jason and work with him can see the skill and passion he brings to each video project. Many business owners recognized his talent and hired him to help their business. Jason knew the vision of what we were trying to achieve with the vlog and loved helping small business thrive in downtown Stockton.

While he prepares for his next journey, I am excited to see where the camera will take him. He has incredible potential to hone his craft and continue visual storytelling.

Surprise.

For episode 4, I can say it was full of surprises and experiences that happened last minute. Each episode had unexpected turns and natural conversations.

I never scripted anything (Napkin notes).

I never scheduled half of those people to appear in our episodes.

When Renee asked one of the workers at the Waterfront about a new business opening in September, we had no idea the owner was available to chat with us about the business.

We got curious.

We told the waitress about how great our food tasted at Yasoo Yani, 10 minutes later the owner drops by our table to explain the method of making baklava.

I always pitch “Be curious” to students when I do guest speaking for colleges in Stockton and Sacramento. Out of the ten fundamentals of public relations, curiosity is always my number 1. It opens up dialogue with people. If we didn’t ask those questions or inquire about something specific, how would we know? How would we hear their story? Storytelling is a key component in any form of content you create with a brand. It unfolds naturally in the vlog. I hope we were able to capture that and convey it to you in our content.

As the director/producer, I have to coordinate schedules and dates for the places we visit. What happens along the way is magic. Who could we meet? What can we experience in that episode?

I do a lot of improvisation. I might give a general idea of where to shoot it or what to look for, but everything just happens when it needs to. I have ideas for bits, but when we all get together some unexpected event unfolds for us. We brought along friends who felt comfortable with us. I think that is important. How can we get the best story out of you if you feel uncomfortable? We ran into a lot of people who just wanted to talk with us. I bet with all the b-roll, we probably could give you more than 7 episodes! For everyone who popped up in the first 4 episodes, thank you! This project would not be where it is now without some of you agreeing to be on camera.

Thanks!

With that said, I also want to thank Jason and Renee. Both were a huge part in why the vlog was successful! I hope you can take these vlog experiences with you and tell people about it. Share it with those people who don’t know about Stockton and continue to create positive content in future projects.