How CENTRL Office Turned a Leasing Problem into a Flex Powerhouse with Alex Hughes

When a real estate problem turns into a business opportunity… and then scales across the West Coast. That’s the CENTRL Office origin story. In this episode, we sit down with Alex Hughes, co-founder of CENTRL Office, to hear how a “no man's land” office building in Portland led to a full-on flex brand with locations in Oregon, Washington, and California. Alex shares how they’ve transitioned completely to true management agreements, the role of tenant experience, and why the “vibe” is more than just good coffee and nice design. We cover: - How CENTRL Office grew out of a leasing challenge and scaled with a flexible model that works for landlords. - Why they moved from leases to fully aligned management agreement, and what that actually looks like. - The types of buildings and partnerships that set the stage for long-term success (spoiler: they’re not looking for one-off deals). - How enterprise demand is showing up in LA and why it’s reshaping what “coworking” means. - The challenge and opportunity of bringing hospitality-level service to landlord portfolios through flex operations. If you’re working on creative deal structures, supporting landlords through flex, or just trying to figure out how to scale your vibe, this one’s for you. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: - Alex on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-hughes-9a804327/ - CENTRL Office website - https://centrloffice.com/ Connect with your Hosts: - Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanni-palavicini-2389a37/ - Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamierusso/ - Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast - https://www.everythingcoworking.com/podcastmain 🔔 Hit subscribe now & stay tuned for valuable tips, interactive podcasts, industry trends, and expert interviews on building and running a profitable coworking space! https://www.youtube.com/@everythingcoworking/?sub_confirmation=1 🔊 Listen to my podcasts 🔊 → https://www.everythingcoworking.com/podcast ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Audio Podcast is currently on your favorite platforms: 👉ApplePodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-coworking/id991355914 ============================= 🎬 Recommended Playlists 👉 Coworking Education https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfZE25IKRGiPEyB1WWerqofvHZoNh8DvJ 👉 The Everything Coworking Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfZE25IKRGiNG_v8lEhiJRnqUmnREmeHN 🎬 WATCH MY OTHER VIDEOS: 👉 Meagan Slavin, COO of 25N Coworking on Management Agreements and Leadership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFfSSAxiycs 👉 Shlomo Silber, Founder of Bond Collective, Dishes on His New Venture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XtQoj-dkuY 👉 Co-Warehousing Pioneer with Philip Freeman, CEO of Murphy’s Naturals and Founder of The Loading Dock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNEsl1I4jIU 👉 How Maryann Baldwin Drives Economic Development in a Town of 1,000 with Her Coworking Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGGf4cLy2fA 👉 From Bronx Roots to Coworking Success: Ramon Gonzalez's Journey with Thrive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hAq6FK5OX4 ============================= ✅ About Everything Coworking. Welcome to Everything Coworking! I help you launch and run profitable coworking spaces that fit your business and personal goals. Tune in for tips, advice, and insights on creating a successful coworking space. Learn from my weekly podcast, which features expert interviews and industry updates. Whether you're just starting or looking to improve your space, I've got you covered. 🔔 Hit subscribe now, and you won't miss expert tips, industry updates, engaging podcasts, and expert interviews on launching and running a profitable coworking space! https://www.youtube.com/@everythingcoworking/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= #coworking #office #podcast #community #coworkingspace #vision #flex #space #lease #powerhouse ⚠️ Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Everything Coworking. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my YouTube channel is provided. © Everything Coworking