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Key people at Common House.
Common House is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based hospitality company that operates membership-based social clubs providing dedicated co-working spaces, full-service dining facilities, and community event venues. The organization generates its primary revenue through initiation fees and monthly membership dues, supplemented by food and beverage sales, wedding packages, and private venue rentals targeting professionals, entrepreneurs, and corporate groups. Operating with a workforce of 101 to 200 employees, the company has raised $730,000 in a single funding round and currently serves more than 1,000 active club members across its initial properties. Under the executive direction of CEO Ben Wood, the enterprise has expanded its regional footprint to four total locations by adapting historic buildings into modern clubhouses in recognizable markets including Richmond, Chattanooga, and New Orleans. Common House was officially founded in 2017 by Derek Sieg, Ben Pfinsgraff, and Josh Rogers.
Key people at Common House.
Common House is a modern social club and event venue founded in 2017, designed to foster community connections through membership-based "third spaces" featuring dining, co-working, events, and networking.[1][3][4] It operates locations in mid-sized U.S. cities like Charlottesville (VA), Richmond (VA), Chattanooga (TN), and New Orleans (LA), offering amenities such as restaurants, rooftop lounges, pools, private offices, podcast studios, and curated programming including live music, wine tastings, and master classes.[1][3][4] The company has raised under $5 million in total funding, including a $730,000 seed round in January 2025, and generates around $16.7 million in revenue with 95 employees.[1][6]
Common House serves professionals, couples, students, out-of-towners, and corporations seeking inclusive spaces beyond home or office, solving the problem of fragmented social and professional networking in growing communities.[1][3] Its growth includes expansion to new cities and public-access elements like Birdie's restaurant, blending private membership perks with broader event hosting for weddings, fundraisers, and galas.[3][4]
Common House was founded in 2017 by Derek Sieg and Ben Pfinsgraff, who envisioned a comfortable, modern gathering space for social and business pursuits after launching the original location in Charlottesville, Virginia.[1][3] Sieg and Pfinsgraff, drawing from a desire to reimagine traditional clubs, created an inclusive model emphasizing community immersion through design, programming, and local food and beverage.[1][3]
Early traction came from the debut House's success, leading to rapid expansion: Richmond (No. 2) in the Arts District with added features like a rooftop pool and screening room, followed by Chattanooga and New Orleans.[1][3][4] Pivotal moments include diverse membership categories (personal, corporate, "Common Ground" for community leaders) and adaptations like CDC-compliant co-working during challenges, solidifying its role as a connective hub.[3]
Common House rides the trend of hybrid work and "third spaces" post-pandemic, addressing remote workers' need for professional-social hybrids amid declining office use and rising community isolation.[1][3] Its timing aligns with urban revitalization in mid-sized cities, where market forces like population growth, local vendor partnerships, and demand for experiential venues favor scalable social clubs.[1][4]
By blending co-working with events and dining, it influences the hospitality-tech ecosystem indirectly through tools like podcast studios and networking that support creators and startups, though not a tech firm itself; it amplifies local innovation hubs in non-coastal areas.[3]
Common House is poised for further geographic expansion into additional mid-sized U.S. cities, leveraging its recent $730,000 seed funding to scale amenities and programming while maintaining founder-driven community focus.[1][6] Trends like experiential memberships, AI-curated events, and sustainable local sourcing will shape its path, potentially evolving into a national network influencing how hybrid lifestyles integrate work, leisure, and connection.[1][4] As it grows, expect deeper corporate partnerships and tech integrations for member experiences, reinforcing its role as a vital social infrastructure in evolving communities—echoing its origins as a simple vision for meaningful gathering spaces.[3]
