Greenspace CoWork celebrates new ownership and future growth

A new chapter is unfolding for Greenfield’s remote workforce at Greenspace CoWork, as the business recently hosted a grand reopening celebration with its new owners. Founders Jeremy Goldsher and Jeff Sauser officially handed over the keys of the dual-location Main Street hub to new owners and fiancées Sarah Little and Nismah Osman in November.

The four were joined by members of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on the third floor of 289 Main St. on April 2.

“I think we’re feeling excited, we’re feeling hopeful and really well-supported,” Osman told the Greenfield Recorder.

Greenspace was started in 2018 by Jeremy Goldsher and Jeff Sauser, but both have decided to pursue other opportunities. The two were on hand to pass the proverbial reins to the new owners and wish them well.

“A greenspace, by its definition, is a communal destination set aside for preservation, shared interaction and leisure. Like Central Park, it is a gateway to the best parts of a city, inviting nature, family, and friendship to coexist in a third space open to anyone,” Goldsher read from a prepared statement. “Jeff and I spent much of our time bringing this vision to life piece by piece, with our own hands and the support of our amazing village.”

Goldsher said the new owners resemble him and Sauser when they started their journey.

“These two passionate entrepreneurs, residing locally, who love this city dearly, come with experience to not only maintain the core membership, but with plans already in motion to bring new resources and programming that will grow this space even further than we had ever imagined,” he said. “Nismah and Sarah, we look forward to seeing what you do next, and are happy leaving our legacy with you as you build your own. Good luck, and keep growing.”

Osman, 31, said she and Little were aware of the space because she used to work at the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center, which Goldsher’s father owns on the first floor.

“It was just the perfect opportunity for us,” said Osman, who works in marketing and communications at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The new owners are introducing the FlexPass, which creates a new tier of flexible access for hybrid or part-time employees. For $75 per month, people get four-day passes per month, one conference room credit per month, and 50% off additional day passes and multimedia room bookings. Osman and Little, who live in Gill, have also automated Greenspace’s systems for more customer convenience.

Little mentioned they also plan to bring back the Business Breakdown, a monthly discussion and networking event. Greenspace’s flexibility and atmosphere lend themselves to Little’s schedule, as she is a mother who works remotely as a registered nurse.

“I feel like it was a great move for us, financially. It just kind of fell into place,” she said. “Working from home myself, I was really craving that community and wanted to give that to other people.”

Little, 40, also praised Goldsher and Sauser for their help while the business ownership changed hands.

“It was seamless,” she reported. “They were so helpful and so kind and willing to help at any turn that we needed any assistance or guidance.”

Erin Anhalt, the city’s chief of staff, attended the open house in Mayor Ginny Desorgher’s absence and lauded the business venture. She said she and her husband have worked remotely or hybrid for several years, and workspaces have on numerous occasions provided day passes for a makeshift office to “get some work done in a place that’s not the bed in our hotel room.”

Jessye Deane, executive director for the Chamber of Commerce, said shortly before the ribbon-cutting that Greenspace has been quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting for the local economic development community for a long time.

“And what makes me most excited is that there’s a lot of similarities between Greenspace and the Chamber and the [Greenfield Business Association], and that is, we exist to help small businesses,” she said. “So today you’re not just cutting the ribbon on one small business. But with that we are also cutting the ribbon on all the small businesses that come to Greenspace for opportunity, for a connection, and for support — and that’s a really good thing to have in our downtown and in Franklin County.”

Goldsher, who has a new lease on life after receiving a much-needed kidney donation over the summer, told the Recorder he is exploring some opportunities in the Boston area.

“I love Greenfield. I love working in this area, but I might be able to do some work on a larger scale,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Sauser said he will keep busy as the owner of an urban planning consulting business and as the Greenfield Planning Board’s chair. He looks back fondly at his time with Greenspace but is confident it is in good hands.

“It was a big moment when we expanded into the second location. But Jeremy and I figured it all out,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. We’ve built a lot of this stuff with partners or by ourselves, designed a lot of it. It was just a real, exciting creative exercise for us.

“It was also really rewarding to be a part of the downtown community,” he continued. “That was one of my inspirations for doing this, too: to be another resource for Greenfield.”