In May, Brennan’s announced plans of a second location in Midtown at 3015 Locust: a concept called Brennan’s Work & Leisure. Located between Small Batch and Atomicdust and totaling 7,000 square feet, the space is about twice the size of Brennan’s current coworking space, the BHIVE. When completed, Work & Leisure will provide 3 private offices, 5 private/lockable desks, 12 reserved/non-lockable desks, and around 20 open workspaces. BHIVE and Work & Leisure will be sister locations, with certain membership levels allowing access to both.

Guided by the Japanese proverb of “Don’t change too much or too little”, owner Kevin Brennan says the renovation will maintain many of the original characteristics of the building. Operating without any public subsidy or tax abatement has meant relying on sweat equity and talented friends to help the project come together.

The finished product will be comprised of many custom pieces, vintage finds, and some hand-selected furniture from Centro Modern Furnishings. “You’re not going to get the formulaic, polished look of an expensive development, but that’s not what we wanted anyway.” Brennan sees the Midtown area as the center for design and the arts. “We feel it’s missing a gathering space for people throughout the day. We’d like to be that hub,” says Brennan. Architectural illustrations by David Rygiol (RYE-JOL) showcase the building’s features and Work & Leisure’s amenities.

In addition to workspace, Work & Leisure will offer a front-facing publicly accessible café, bar, and the ability to transform into a 250 person event space. Several large format projectors add to the presentation space, while the indoor bocce ball court doubles as a stage for events.

3015 Locust is a bit of an eyesore on the block. Its outdated façade was stripped of its original architectural charm sometime in the mid-20th century. The planned facelift will contribute to the ongoing transformation in this district of former automobile showrooms.

Built in 1916 by architect Preston J. Bradshaw, 3015-3019 Locust is located within the historic Locust Street Automotive District. The building is commonly known as the Franklin building, so named for one of its first occupants, the Franklin Auto and Supply Company. At the time, the “Frankline Automobile” was the only vehicle produced in the United States with an air-cooled engine. A series of other auto companies occupied space in this 1-story structure over the next few decades; most recently, the storefront was occupied by the St. Louis Ophthalmic Equipment Company.

The opening is planned for fall 2018, with offices available as early as October.