“Kiln will take what we have started and thoughtfully expand the offering to our members resulting in an all around heightened experience.”
San Diego, CA (July 27, 2022) – Kiln, a boutique co-working and flex-office brand, is thrilled to announce its Southern California expansion, in partnership with Midtown National Group (MNG), on the acquisition and operation of three coworking communities and flex-office spaces in Solana Beach, Leucadia, and Carlsbad Village. The new Kiln locations were previously operated by BLOC, the first official co-working space in San Diego’s North County. The acquisition comes on the heels of growing nationwide demand from startups and enterprise-level teams for elevated workspaces as the trend of WFH and community office spaces continues.
Founded in 2014, the BLOC created boutique, neighborhood-focused workspaces for hybrid teams, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to expand their businesses and meet like-minded individuals. Their vibrant community and beautiful beach-front spaces are a natural fit with Kiln’s culture and ethos.
“Since the founding of BLOC, we have always made decisions on what is best for our members. We have worked hard to build a strong, community-based company that offers curated experiences. We have the utmost confidence that Kiln will preserve and enhance this mission ongoing,” says Brendan Foote, BLOC co-owner. “Starting BLOC has been an incredibly fulfilling journey for us, after eight years operating the company, it is abundantly clear that there is significant value in a greater network of spaces and focus on member benefits. Kiln will take what we have started and thoughtfully expand the offering to our members resulting in an all around heightened experience,” added Curtis Clave, BLOC co-owner.
Importantly, Kiln and BLOC aligned on a common mission, elevating both performance and lifestyle. As such, the acquisition represents less of a change and more of an upgrade for current BLOC members. Additionally, Kiln members at existing locations throughout Utah, Colorado, and Idaho will now have expanded options as they travel for work or split time between California and the Mountain West.
Kiln and BLOC are working closely to ensure a seamless transition for the local member communities over the next few months. Starting September 1st, Kiln will be taking over general operations at BLOC’s three locations. Prior, the Kiln team is most excited to meet BLOC members and collaborate on a vision for future events and programming.
“I really feel like what Curtis Clave and Brendan Foote have created with BLOC is very special. There was a clear cultural alignment and it felt like a good foundation to build upon.”
“I really feel like what Curtis Clave and Brendan Foote have created with BLOC is very special. There was a clear cultural alignment and it felt like a good foundation to build upon,” explains Arian Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Kiln. Leigh Radford, Kiln’s Chief Creative Officer and co-founder, adds, “I’m excited about taking BLOC’s design to the next level, and about putting the lifestyle components of Kiln almost directly on the beach.”
As Kiln looks towards the future, plans are underway for additional flex-office communities across the greater San Diego and Southern California region. Kiln has tapped Midtown National Group (MNG) as a partner for San Diego expansion, focusing on the value of collaborating with a local San Diego real estate and investment company that’s been operating in the market for 40+ years. Kiln currently boasts seven locations in Salt Lake City, Park City, and Lehi, Utah as well as Boulder, Colorado and Meridian, Idaho. Additional Mountain West locations, including Provo, Utah, are in various stages of development.
About Kiln
Founded in 2018, Kiln’s flex-office communities are home to more than 3,000 members and 350 businesses across its seven locations in Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and now California. Kiln’s founders—Arian Lewis and Leigh Radford—have designed, built, and operated flex-office communities since 2010 in cities such as Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Vilnius, New York City, and London. Kiln communities are generously designed to provide all-inclusive shared desks and private offices, robust amenities to support mental and physical wellness, meeting room and event spaces, recording and video studios, and much more. As demand for flexible and experiential office environments grows, Kiln plans to expand across the Mountain West and West Coast. There are currently five additional locations under varying stages of development that are set to come online over the next 12 to 18 months to cities including San Diego, Provo, St. George, Denver, and Phoenix. For more information, visit kiln.co.
About Midtown National Group
Midtown National Group was founded in 1969 as a development company and family office. Over the last 25 years, MNG has evolved and grown into a full-service real estate investment management firm. While headquartered in Solana Beach, California, MNG deploys client and house capital in real estate investments throughout the United States and across all real estate asset classes. MNG directly owns and manages a portfolio of over 100 properties across 20 states, comprised of retail, multifamily, self-storage, and industrial property.
