411. The "Why Not?" Approach: Sue Reardon on Experimenting Her Way to Success at Suite Spotte

What happens when a small business coach realizes her clients need more than advice—they need a place to actually work? She converts the loft she's been living in with her family into a coworking space.

This week, Jamie Russo sits down with Sue Reardon, co-founder and community connector at Suite Spotte in Forest Park and La Grange, Illinois, for one of the most fascinating origin stories we've heard on this podcast.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Sue went from coaching micropreneurs to realizing coworking was the missing piece
• Why it took two years to get the Forest Park location rezoned
• Her "test and invest" mindset—constantly experimenting with flexible memberships
• Why she stopped doing evening events and started showing up with soup and wine instead
• The "Team Mashup" concept—bringing remote and in-office teams together

This conversation is proof that coworking works best when you stay curious, listen to your members, and aren't afraid to test unconventional ideas.

If you're an operator wondering how to create authentic community without forcing it, or navigating flexible memberships, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Sue Reardon on LinkedIn

Suite Spotte Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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