OpenSpace

The Who

Zach Buckner is an inventor, engineer, and entrepreneur. He is doing what he believes he was designed to do, what he dreams about.

He is Founder and CEO of Relay Foods—an online food service putting thousands of local foods, from over 30 local groceries, farms, and restaurants, at your fingertips. Shop and pay online, pick up for free, and go. Save time and gas while going local. Relay Foods’s motto is Better Food, Less Driving, More Living. Relay Foods opened to the public in January 2009.

“The idea came when I was a father of 3 young kids, working as a consultant, flying around, and didn’t have time to grocery shop. I was driving my metal pod back and forth, from place to place, to get all the things we needed. I thought to myself there must be a better, more efficient way.”

The Why OpenSpace

“All of the Founders of Relay Foods started out moonlighting. Working at home, in coffee shops, at odd hours. We grew a little bigger and needed more room, the space. I appreciate the openness of a nice space. OpenSpace is conveniently located, right next the mall, accessible. I can walk to everything.”

“I need a place that is set up for work. Not super chaotic, not so many people talking about totally random things. A balance. It is hard to work when you are alone, but also hard to work when no one is really working. A place with people who you know, people you want to know. OpenSpace offers this.”

(Photograph by Billy Hunt)

OpenSpace will be CLOSED for the Easter Holiday weekend on both Saturday, April 3 & Sunday, April 4.

During this two-day break, we will be accomplishing some spring cleaning and renovating.

One of the tasks will be to apply IdeaPaint in one or more of the Work Studios. This IdeaPaint turns the wall into a dry-erase surface! How cool is that?!? Now your creativity and collaboration will be even more innovative as you write it and share it on the wall!

The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) has selected OpenSpace as a finalist for The Rocket Award—an honor presented to the enterprise that has moved with noteworthy speed from concept toward commercialization. This could be any size company that has developed a new technology or product in a new business or within an existing business.

The 12th Annual CBIC Awards Ceremony will take place at Farmington Country Club, on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at 5:15 PM. The Rocket Award, as well as several other awards for local individuals and organizations, will be presented.

We are soaring with pride!

And we aren’t taking you far. Come join us in OpenSpace for some Christian’s pizza pie on Wednesday, March 31st, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Do some work in the morning at OpenSpace and know lunch is being delivered to you on us. Or just show up for lunch that Wednesday and enjoy a slice and some face time with other members.

We are not only Your Room to Work, we are your room to wolf down some superb ‘za.

Yes we can.

We wanted to let you know we have been listening to your concerns about where to have a private phone conversation while working in OpenSpace. We are hearing you and we are investigating some creative options to remedy the situation. We fully understand that some conversations are not for all ears.

In the interim, until we can implement the solution(s), here are some tips on where to take and make those calls:

• Please feel free to use any of the 3 Work Studios if they are not already in use or reserved.

• Now that fine weather is unfolding, step outside and catch some rays and fresh air while conducting phone business.

• And if The Forum is not heavily occupied or hosting an event, this area can be a fine place for some cell phone action.

As plans on design and construction for more private telephone conversations become firm, we will be sharing these details with you.

Again, we thank you for your feedback, thoughts, and patience.

Check out NBC29’s coverage of OpenSpace:

“Businesses Cut Costs by Sharing Office Space”

Many thanks to our members and local entrepreneurs Zach Buckner, CEO and Founder of Retail Relay and Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell, Founder of Joyful Hot TV, for shining in the spotlight and talking the talk.