Coworking usually happens in spaces dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile workforce. These coworking spaces provide access to all the things a freelancer, remote employee, or entrepreneur needs to connect with the local community and be successful.

But just like a cubicle isn't the only place to be productive, a coworking space isn't the only place freelancers can gather to collaborate.

Pop-up coworking spaces; temporary, but conveniently located work spaces, are becoming more popular in high traffic areas. And now it seems non-coworking businesses are also getting in on the action by offering (and in some cases creating) extra space to mobile workers at no charge.

While pop-up coworking spaces are usually only around for a few days during a popular event or promotion, these "retail coworking spaces" are more permanent. Although they're almost always free, these spaces allow businesses to support the savvy coworking crowd in a way that's mutually beneficial.

Read on for some examples of how non-coworking busiensses are reaching out to the coworking community, and decide for yourself whether this is a fad or fabulous.

Wix Lounge

Wix.com is a start-up that offers a free website building tool. Anyone, but especially creatives and small business owners, can use the tool to drag and drop a flash website without writing a single line of code. 

Even more brilliant than the tool itself are the Wix Lounges the company has set up to cater to its audience. These spaces, in New York City and San Francisco, are offered as free coworking facilities and event spaces. From design, business and social media workshops, to fundraisers, techie panels, product launches and fashion shows, the Wix Lounges offer a free community hub for both work and play. Freelancers get to meet the company up close and personal, and perhaps give their website tool a try, or talk to others who've already used it.

Sports Basement – Presidio

With a name like 'Sports Basement' you'd probably expect to find baseball mitts, running shoes, and various other tools for enjoying yourself in the great outdoors. But as the franchise's largest location, the Sports Basement in Presidio also offers its extra space for community use.

"We use the space in the store to benefit the community, member groups and non-profits," said Liz Greenblatt, who works in Sports Basement's marketing department as a client manager. "We don't charge for the space because these groups are generally low on funds and it's our hope that our space allows the group to continue its efforts."

To Greenblatt's knowledge, the Presidio store's community spaces has not yet been utilized for formal coworking, but it's definitely available. For Jelly's or larger coworking gatherings, the store can provide projection screens, LCD projector, speakers, TV, DVD/VCR and hard-wired internet access. If you're interested in coworking at the store, just email them to reserve a space.

Seats and Symbiosis

Wix Lounges and Sports Basement are somewhat unique examples of how a busienss can reach out to an untapped audience while also doing good in the larger community. But in some cases the decision to offer space for coworking comes from a more obvious connection

Every work space, whether it's a large coworking facility or a home office, needs chairs, desks, tables, lamps, file cabinets, and various other tools of the trade. Office furniture companies want to meet those needs, and several have discovered that coworking is a great way to gain exposure among the independent workforce.